Seven years after its last participation, Olympique de Marseille returns to the Champions League on Wednesday, traveling to the Greeks of Olympiakos (9 p.m.).

For the players of André Villas-Boas, the objective is to qualify for the knockout stages, in a group where Manchester City are the undisputed favorites. 

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After seven years without the Champions League, Olympique de Marseille is renewing the thread of its European history in the port of Piraeus against Olympiakos led by Mathieu Valbuena, its former pocket leader (2006-2014).

Dimitri Payet's partners land in Greece with the ambition to qualify for the upper round.

"We dreamed of this competition, so we are aiming for the round of 16," did not hide the Marseille coach, André Villas-Boas, in an interview with AFP.

Not in the toughest group, with Manchester City as a big favorite but also in the company of FC Porto, OM can dream of the round of 16, the "high goal" set by the Portuguese coach. 

FC Porto favorite for second place

In seven years, OM has maintained its wardrobe as a great European with a Europa League final in 2018, lost against Atlético de Madrid (3-0), but the project of the owner Frank McCourt and the president Jacques-Henri Eyraud goes through regular participations in the C1.

"We can not lament too much after being in hat 4 in the draw. The schedule is pretty good for us," assured AFP the coach who brought OM back to greater Europe.

It all started with the Greeks of Olympiakos, an opponent of a similar level.

But from next week, Florian Thauvin, Dimitri Payet and their teammates will face the group's ogre, Manchester City, promised first place in Pool C. And they will end the first leg by moving to the FC field. Porto, favorite to win the second qualifying ticket for the round of 16 and which (very) often beat the French clubs on the European scene.

Refuel in front of Olympiakos 

Faced with the English scarecrow - eliminated last season by another Olympique, Lyonnais this one - and the Portuguese outsider, Marseille will therefore have to refuel against Olympiakos if he wants to finish second in the group.

In Piraeus, the Marseillais will not have to face the usual fervor of the Karaïskaki stadium, kept behind closed doors Tuesday by the Greek Prime Minister after a reverse decision announced ... the day before. 

For this meeting, the Marseille coach is deprived of Boubacar Kamara, suspended for a red card dating back to OM's last European match, a shipwreck at the Vélodrome against Apollon Limassol (3-1).

To replace him, André Villas-Boas has the choice between Kevin Strootman, used to the C1, unlike Valentin Rongier, but who has regained all his energy, Morgan Sanson or Pape Gueye, all rookies.

Finally "AVB" finds Dimitri Payet, suspended against the Girondins, and probably his 4-3-3, after a 4-4-2 diamond released against Bordeaux.