Arguably the week’s most important clash in the Champions League takes place at the Luzhniki Stadium, where Spartak Moscow will defend their advantage over an Olympique de Marseille side coming off a record victory in the previous round of games.
The venue for the final of the 2008 Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea, the Luzhniki is bracing itself for another dramatic evening of football. Spartak’s opening day victory in Marseille has them level on points with les Phoceens, giving Tuesday’s encounter vital importance. Win and Spartak are through, lose and it’s probable they’ll be out. A draw, however, would be of great benefit to the Russians, leaving them only needing to beat a weak Zilina team to progress.
With the ball firmly in their court, the Meat will turn out determined to put a place in the knock-out stages beyond all doubt, giving them the bonus of being able to relax for their post-season break just a little bit early as the RPL is due to shut down for the winter at the weekend.
European football is already assured for Spartak next season, though it comes in the form of the Europa League, which is undesirable once the top level has been tasted. If this term is to be prolonged in any meaningful way by Valery Karpin’s side, who lost a city derby against CSKA Moscow 3-1 at the weekend, they must pick up at least a point against les Phoceens.
Statistics count against the Russian unit somewhat; not only have they lost 13 of 20 matches against French opponents, they’ve only won once at home in Champions League action since a win over Arsenal in 2000.
Win Or Bust
Ligue 1 has an unusual look to it after 13 matches of the campaign, largely due to the inability of France’s big club’s to score victories on a consistent basis. Olympique de Marseille have been one of the chief culprits, starting the defence to their crown slowly, though it is undeniable that Didier Deschamps’ men have improved in recent weeks.
A winning mentality is important to the man once referred to as ‘the Water Carrier’, and he saw that from his players on Saturday evening as they scored a narrow 1-0 win in Toulouse. OM were far from pretty, but Andre Ayew’s late headed goal keeps them within touching distance of the summit of the league and maintains a domestic run of one loss in 15 games.
Continental football, and the Champions League group stage in particular, has proven a stumbling block for les Phoceens in the past, but the club is determined to do better this time around, and victory on Wednesday is essential to that goal.
“This season, the management decided to invest heavily in the transfer market to strengthen the team and allow them to pass the group round of the Champions League. Elimination would be a great disappointment, if not a failure for the club,” owner Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, ironically a Russian, indicated to the media.
Spartak managed to claim a 1-0 win at the Stade Velodrome on Matchday 1 without so much as getting a shot on target in the match – their winner was a Cesar Azpilicueta own goal – so revenge is very much on the cards for an OM side who simply have to win.
TEAM NEWS
Spartak
There are a couple of fairly pressing injury worries for Spartak coach Valery Karpin. Captain Alex picked up a thigh muscle problem against Rubin Kazan on November 8 and hasn’t featured since, while Ari has been missing for nearly a month with a similar problem.
Sergei Parshivlyuk (ligaments) and Kirill Kombarov (ankle) won’t play.
Marseille
The positive news for Didier Deschamps is that he has been able to name Benoit Cheyrou in his squad to travel east. Cheyrou had previously been struggling with an adductor problem in his left leg.
A squad of 20 players travels to Russia, with only Hilton missing due to injury.
Prediction
The Luzhniki Stadium isn’t a venue that tends to favour Spartak, who could be without a couple of their most important players on Tuesday. They may have won in France, but Marseille were the more impressive side overall and will be hungry for revenge in Moscow. OM haven’t been playing especially well this season, but if they can rouse themselves for this fixture they can score a big result.
Spartak 1-2 Marseille 
