Marseille V Bayern Munich: Champions League Team News, Preview, Predicted Lineup

French club Olympique de Marseille play host to German giants Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg on Wednesday.

The two clubs have five European titles between them—one to Marseille and four to Bayern—and will certainly be an interesting game to watch.

It has already been a long road to the final eight for both sides, but Bayern's absolute demolition of FC Basel in the last round saw the Bavarian club notch seven goals in the final game between the two and blast them into the final eight.

The club have also been on top form in all other competitions as they have not lost a game in the month of March.

However, Marseille have not won a match since their opening round of 16 tie with Inter Milan in the previous stage of the Champions League and have fallen to ninth in Ligue 1. A draw with Nice at the weekend ended a seven-game losing streak.

Marseille's competition in Bayern, meanwhile, is five points off of first place in the German Bundesliga and are continuing to fight for their dominance on all sides of their campaign.

The loss of Souleymane Diawara for what could be the remainder of the season was definitely not what the French wanted to have happen on the day they finally did not lose a match. Now they will have an even more difficult time dealing with the powerful Bayern offense.

Bayern are especially keen on reaching the final as it will be held in their home stadium, the Allianz Arena, in May and it would be a great advantage to literally be the home team in the final.

The German side's currently injured defender Daniel Van Buyten has tipped his side to have the advantage in the match even though they are away as quoted on Goal.com:

"

Marseille are a shade better than Basel.

That we lost the first leg in Switzerland should be a warning to us. However, we have the quality to come away from Marseille with a really good result.

They're going through a difficult phase at the moment, but they've also been very unlucky. It's always dangerous against a team like that. We'll have to be incredibly wary.

"

Bayern have also been in the news for their recent activity in the transfer market.

News concerning the club having officially signed Tobias Schweinsteiger, the older brother of club standout Bastian Schweinsteiger, was posted by ESPNsoccernet.com. However, the two are unlikely to be seen on the same pitch any time soon.

Other reports have the Bavarian side possibly looking to sign Klaas-Jan Huntelaar from Schalke 04 in the near future as the Rhineland club are struggling to make headway with a new deal to hold onto the Dutch international, according to Goal.com.

Further reports are also suggesting and both Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben are both looking at new or extended deals to remain in Germany which is a major boost for the club that is hitting full form at the right time.

Marseille are certain to have a major fight on their hands with Bayern coming to town and there is no doubt that if the French side are not prepared that it could turn out to be a tough night on the Mediterranean coast.

Predicted Lineups

Marseille starting XI: Steve Mandanda: Jeremy Morel, Nicolas N'Koulou, Charles Kabore, Cesar Azpilicueta; Stephen M'Bia, Alou Diarra, Andre Ayew, Morgan Amalfitano, Loic Remy, Mathieu Valbuena.

Bayern Munich starting XI: Manuel Neuer: David Alaba, Jermoe Boateng, Holger Badstuber, Phillip Lahm; Luis Gustavo, Toni Kroos, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribbery, Thomas Muller; Mario Gomez.

Key Players

Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich): The big German attacker has been a beast for the Bavarian side all season. With 10 goals in the Champions League this season he is the only other player in double figures aside from Barcelona's Lionel Messi.

Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille): With five goals and 12 assists this season, French midfielder Mathieu Valbuena is the main cog of the Marseille attacking engine. If Valbuena is on form, then Loic Remy and Andre Ayew are sure to at least have a chance to make an impact on the result.

Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich): Both Ribery and Robben will be the creators that allow for Gomez to be his usual destructive self in front of goal. The two have combined for 17 assists and 24 goals in all competitions. Their movement off and on the ball are key to Gomez' success and if the defense pays too much attention to the German, the French and Dutch internationals could pounce.

Steve Mandanda (Marseille): Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda is going to have to play out of his boots in order to maintain a clean sheet in the match. Bayern have one of the most potent offenses on the continent and will be knocking on the 27-year-old Frenchman's goal all night long.

Match prediction: Marseille 0-3 Bayern Munich.

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