Bayern Munich - Olympique de Marseille Preview match: UEFA-Champions League 2011/12

Bavarians looking to wrap up place in the semi-finals of the Champions League

April 3, 2012 7:45 PM BST
Allianz-Arena — München
Team News

Bayern Munich

Bayern are unlikely to make any changes from the side that won at Marseille in the first leg, with Alaba continuing at left back. Bastian Schweinsteiger is suspended after picking up his third yellow card of the campaign in the Champions League. Franck Ribery was among those rested at the weekend and should return to the starting XI. Boateng, Muller, Kroos and Gustavo all have to be careful, as they are all one yellow card away from incurring a one-match suspension.

probable lineups : Neuer, Alaba, Badstuber, Boateng, Lahm, Gustavo, Kroos, Ribery, Muller, Robben, Gomez. (4-2-3-1). 

Marseille

Alou Diarra misses out through suspension after picking up a yellow card in the first leg, but Marseille have both Souleymane Diawara and Steve Mandanda back after their suspensions. However, Diawara is not expected to recover from injury in time to feature, and he will probably not be risked. Morel, Mbia, Amalfitano and Andre Ayew are all one yellow card away from suspension, though it looks unlikely that that will affect this season's campaign, after a disappointing home result in the first leg.

probable lineups : Mandanda, Azpilicueta, Fanni, N'Koulou, Morel, Cheyrou, Mbia, Amalfitano, Valbuena, Ayew, Remy. (4-2-3-1). 

Head to Head

Bayern Munich

Mar 31, 2012	Nürnberg 0 - FC Bayern München 1	GER1
Mar 28, 2012	Olympique de Marseille 0 - FC Bayern München 2	UCL
Mar 24, 2012	FC Bayern München 2 - Hannover 96 1	GER1
Mar 21, 2012	Borussia Mönchengladbach 0 - FC Bayern München 0	GERC
Mar 17, 2012	Hertha BSC 0 - FC Bayern München 6	GER1

Marseille

Mar 28, 2012	Olympique de Marseille 0 - FC Bayern München 2	UCL
Mar 24, 2012	OGC Nice 1 - Olympique de Marseille 1	FRA1
Mar 20, 2012	Quevilly Us 3 - Olympique de Marseille 2	FRAC
Mar 17, 2012	Olympique de Marseille 1 - Dijon FCO 2	FRA1
Mar 13, 2012	FC Internazionale 2 - Olympique de Marseille 1	UCL

UEFA Champions League ‎  ‎

Mar 28, 2012

Olympique de Marseille 0 - FC Bayern München 2

 

Prediction

Bayern Munich may have built up an unassailable lead over Marseille in the first leg. A 2-0 win away from home before returning home, especially for a team as good as Bayern are on home soil, is almost certainly going to be enough to see them through. Bayern have won their last 9 home games on the trot and have only failed to win 2 of their 20 home games all season. 

Marseille, could barely have more contrasting form. They have not won in 9 matches, losing 8 of those (though one loss came in extra time in the Coupe de France) and have only kept one clean sheet in their last 16 games. Bayern usually score for fun at home, and did exactly that in the last round of the Champions League when they beat Basel 7-0. They may well score a few once again.

Marseille are completely out of sorts, while Bayern are flying high, still fighting in 3 competitions. After such a convincing win in the first leg, they will stick to the same tactics, going out to win and not settle for anything less. It could make for a long night for the French side.

Bayern Munich  3 - 0  Marseille