Champions League

December 8, 2010: UEFA Champions League Matchday 6 continues on Wednesday night with more action-packed matches in the offing. Below I attempt to analyse tonight’s fixtures.

Marseille vs Chelsea

Time: 2045 hrs CET

Venue: Stade Velodrome, Marseille

Referee: Vladislav Bezborodov (Rus)

Marseille host Chelsea in what is more to be remembered as a homecoming for Didier Drogba than a Champions League match. Both the teams have qualified for the knock out stages of the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea confirmed on top of Group F with Marseille in the second place. In the reverse fixture on Matchday 2, Chelsea, the home team beat the Frenchmen 2-0 in London.

This match is also important for Marseille manager Didier Deschamps, who was himself a Chelsea player in his playing days. While, Didier Drogba had achieved cult status and a special relationship with the Marseille fans during his one year stay there.

With nothing to play for, both teams are expected to rest key players. Chelsea will be looking to give playing time to their youngsters including Josh McEachran and Daniel Sturridge, while John Terry will be aiming for a return to full fitness.

Arsenal  vs Partizan

Time: 2045 hrs CET

Venue: the Emirates Stadium, London

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (Ita)

Arsenal need to win and secure all three points to assure themselves of a place in the next round of the UEFA Champions League. They won their first three matches, and seemed well on their way to the knock our rounds, but these victories were followed by two successive losses. They have easy opposition in FK Partizan who haven’t won even a single match in the group stages. They’ve lost all five, and if they lose against Gunners tonight, they’ll join a group of 10 other teams in Champions League history who have had the misfortune of losing all their group matches.

Last weekend’s hero and back to full fitness, Samir Nasri will be expected to show his calmness and composure in this match also. While captain Cesc Fabregas will be aiming to put in a top show in a match where his team needs him at his best.

Yesterday’s Results

Below are the final results of the Matchday 6 fixtures which took place on Tuesday:

Twente 3-3 Tottenham

Bremen 3-0 Internazionale

Lyon 2-2 Tel Aviv

Benfica 1-2 Schalke

Manchester United 1-1 Valencia

Bursaspor 1-1 Rangers

Barcelona 2-0 Rubin

Kobenhavn 3-1 Panathinaikos

Tags: Arsenal, Chelsea, CL, Football, Marseille, Partizan, Sport, Sports, UEFA Champions League