FC Bayern: Review of the Bavarian Derby; Preview of the Game Against Marseille

Derbies tend to be exciting affairs. They tend to be more exciting when three points signify more than a win for either side.

This was the case for Bayern on Saturday. With Stuttgart having amazingly held Dortmund to a 4-4 draw on Friday, a win for Bayern would see the gap between the two close to just three points.

And while Bayern did not hammer Nuremberg, they got a deserved victory. This away victory against Nuremberg was the first since 2005.

The first half was rather evenly matched. In the second half, Bayern took control. The telling substitution for Bayern was the introduction of Bastian Schweinsteiger in place of Anatoliy Tymoshschuk in the 55th minute.

With Bastian's introduction, the urgency in the side increased. A Mario Gomez goal was disallowed for the worst offside call seen in the Bundesliga for a while. Bayern did breakthrough eventually when Toni Kroos found substitute Franck Ribery with one of his wonderful lobbed passes. While Ribery failed to take advantage, Arjen Robben beat a Nuremberg player to the ball and shot at goal.

That goal proved to be the match-winner. Some late fumbles by Manuel Neuer were dealt with by the defence. Nuremberg had chances but failed to take advantage.

Luiz Gustavo came on as a late substitute and picked up a yellow card. The card was his fifth of the season which means he will be suspended for next week's derby against Augsburg.

Provided that Bayern beats Augsburg, which will obviously be tough if the first meeting is anything to go by, the match against Borussia Dortmund might turn out to be the title decider. The fate of the Bundesliga title is in Bayern's hands once again. This comes almost as a major surprise as hardly anybody saw this coming, including Christian Nerlinger.

On Tuesday, Bayern takes on Marseille at the Allianz Arena. A two goal away lead is what Bayern will have to successfully defend to reach the semi-finals. Last season, Bayern led 0-1 after the first leg against Inter. They lost in the second leg at home, becoming only the second team to be knocked out after an away victory by a single goal in the first leg in the Champions League era.

No team has ever been knocked out in the Champions League era after taking a 0-2 lead from the first leg.

Bayern has to make sure that they don't end up becoming the first side to get knocked out with a 0-2 away lead. If the game turns out to be a close one, plenty of Bayern fans will be biting their nails towards the end, thanks to bad memories from not too long ago. You all know I am referring to Goran Pandev's 88th minute goal at the Allianz Arena last season.

This match might not turn out to be straightforward. In the first leg, Neuer had to be on his toes to bail Bayern out on several occasions. Considering that Franck Ribery as well as Luiz Gustavo were rested on Saturday, Bayern should be relatively fresh coming into this one.

Robben looks as good as ever. He has been in brilliant form in the past seven matches, six of which Bayern has won. The other was, of course, a draw against Gladbach. Bayern also won that on penalties to progress to the German Cup Final.

Ribery will be more at home at the Allianz Arena after being booed constantly on his former home ground in Marseille.

As far as suspensions are concerned, Alou Diarra and Bastian Schweinsteiger are both suspended after picking up three yellow cards in this campaign. Souleymane Diawara has been ruled out for the rest of the season for Marseille and thus will be absent in this tie. Steve Mandanda will return in goal and take over the captaincy as well.

Thomas Mueller, Toni Kroos, Jerome Boateng and Luiz Gustavo are all one booking away from being suspended from their next match in UEFA club competition. The same applies to Stephane Mbia from Marseille. David Alaba and Philip Lahm had also been booked in the first leg but are not one booking away from incurring suspensions.

Marseille has some very dangerous players in the squad.

Andre Ayew is someone who needs no introduction. Mathieu Valbuena is a dangerous player and did manage to catch out Lahm in the first leg. Loic Remy can harm his opponents if he is not tracked properly.

Marseille also has Andre Pierre Gignac in the squad. Gignac lit up the league when he starred for Toulouse. On his day, he is a dangerous striker.

So, what will the line-up be? Ideally, the same players who started the first leg should start this one too:

Manuel Neuer

Philipp Lahm (C)- Holger Badstuber- Jerome Boateng- David Alaba

Toni Kroos- Luiz Gustavo

Arjen Robben- Thomas Mueller- Franck Ribery

Mario Gomez

If Bayern gets an early goal, everybody will feel calm. As long as it remains 0-0 or if Marseille gets an early goal, the players and the fans will get more nervy.

What do you think will happen in the match? Let me hear your thoughts.