PSV visits Olympique Marseille

As PSV visits Olympique de Marseille in their fourth match of the Champions League, their slim chances of advancing to the knockout "round" are contingent upon a victory at Stade Vélodrome. Standing third in the table, well behind Liverpool and Atlético Madrid both tied four points about them, the most likely battle is for the third place finish and advancement to the UEFA Cup. Quite obviously a victory by PSV would send the French squad tumbling out of European competition for the year.

In the opening match between the two, Eric Gerets' l'OM looked completely out-classed at Philips Stadion as they stumbled to a hapless 2-0 defeat. Since that match both clubs have been playing somewhat "up and down" with PSV losing to Roda JC Kerkrade but subsequently coming out on top against ADO Den Haag and Willem II Tilburg whilst the Côte d'Azur residents fell to heated rivals PSG, drawing level with Nantes before defeating Saint-Étienne this weekend.

l'OM has been going through a trying period of late, notably Hatem Ben Arfa completely inexcusable behaviour when he refused to enter the PSG match late. While the much ado has been made of the situation being resolved, it is both unacceptable, jeopardizes Eric Gerets control of the club and lays doubt regarding the mettle of the twenty-one year-old Les Bleus capped winger. To complicate matters they will be without prolific goal-scorer Mamadou Niang for the match.

Hubb Stevens will be without Nordin Amrabat and Jérémie Bréchet for the match with Ibrahim Afellay fully healed from Saturdays collision on the pitch. Like l'OM, PSV is facing its own inner turmoil with a practice grounds blow-up of Edison Méndez and the the benching of Carlos Salcido. As much as they try to smother it publicly,the benching of El Tri capped defender raises the eyebrows of not only their supporters but the coaching world. With the club firmly developing ties to Football talent from Mexico, news has leaked that Carlos inability to speak Dutch has cost him his position. Within the modern Football world where a half a dozen languages are spoken on the pitch at any one-time, should this decision be true that the Carlos lost his decision for this, PSV will effectively be severed from the rich talent of México and deservedly feel the wrath of many, myself included. For PSV supporters this is one of the most troubling problems in recent memory as it will create a massive rift within a globalized sport.

I will report on the match as it concludes.