Champions League: Marseille in search of first points against Sporting Portugal
Congolese Chancel Mbemba after his goal against Nantes, August 20, 2022. AFP - NICOLAS TUCAT
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
3 mins
Behind closed doors, Marseille, bottom of Group D, receives Sporting Portugal on Tuesday October 4 during the third day of the 2022-2023 Champions League.
Goal of the evening: score the first points of this C1 season.
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Has the take-off time arrived for Marseille this season in the Champions League?
The Phocaeans will try to get their first points against Sporting Portugal, on the third day and behind closed doors.
During the previous C1 match at home, lost against Frankfurt, new incidents took place between Marseille and German supporters.
The Vélodrome was suspended and UEFA cracked down, imposing a total behind closed doors against Sporting as well as the closure of the North Bend in the upcoming match against Tottenham.
If OM walked last Friday in Ligue 1 in Angers (3-0), the task of the men of Igor Tudor promises to be much more difficult at the Vélodrome against the players of Ruben Amorim.
Marseille, which is in second place in the French championship, will face an "
important
" team with "
good players
", warns Igor Tudor.
If Sporting is struggling in the league (7th 9 points behind Benfica), it presents a completely different face on the European scene after impressive successes against Frankfurt (3-0) and Tottenham (2-0) who are opposed in the other Group D game. For their part, OM lost 2-0 at Spurs and 1-0 at home against Frankfurt.
The return of Eric Bailly
This summer, the Marseillais saw Chancel Mbemba, Eric Bailly and Alexis Sanchez land.
Three players expected to bring their Champions League experience.
"
We know the importance of this match
," admitted Congolese Chancel Mbemba, who will be back from suspension against the Portuguese, at a press conference.
And to add about the camera: “
For us, it will not change anything at all.
We know that the supporters will be behind us anyway.
And we are going to wet the jersey to satisfy them.
»
Hit in a thigh against Eintracht Frankfurt on September 13 in the Champions League, Ivorian international defender Éric Bailly should return to the Marseille group against Sporting Portugal.
After three weeks of recovery, he was in the group in Angers, warmed up and seems operational for Sporting.
OM coach Igor Tudor called him up for the trip to Angers just in case.
Bailly did not come into play.
Chilean Alexis Sanchez, 65 C1 matches on the clock, has not scored in the European Cup for almost a year and a match won with Inter against Sheriff Tiraspol (3-1, November 3, 2021) .
“
They are experienced players, but above all I expect results as a team.
Tomorrow, we have to do a great performance and hope that it brings us at least one point
, ”says Igor Tudor.
With Marseille now playing a good part of their future in the Champions League, Sporting Portugal have an opportunity to consolidate their leading position at the top of Group D.
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