After the draw in Lisbon, 1-1, OM are favourites heading into the return leg, but Benfica are not beaten just yet. Far from it...

One week ago at the Estadio da Luz, OM clawed back a draw against Benfica, scoring in the last minute of regular time. This goal, scored by Hatem Ben Arfa, has completely changed the match. From a difficult situation with a 1-0 defeat to come back from, OM are in relative comfort without, however, being able to just sit back and relax during the return leg. Good defence will be necessary as apart from a victory, the only draw which would see OM go through is a 0-0 but “it will be stressful right to the end” states Didier Deschamps. At 2-2 and above, Benfica would qualify for the quarter-final and at 1-1, the two teams would have to play extra time and maybe even penalties. So, OM would happily get back to winning ways after three draws in a row. “Winning is always good, always better”.

The best defence for OM could be to attack, as they have always scored at least once in their last eleven encounters. “No team can play for a 0-0. That would limit you in your choices and offensive options. If we don’t concede we will go through. If the score is still at 0-0 and time running out, it is logical that my players would think more of conserving the ball, but I can’t ask my team to just defend”.
So, attack. OM’s attacking sector could quickly kill off the suspense so hoped for by Benfica. “We play well going forward and that allows us to have a lot of opportunities in a game. Afterwards there is efficiency and luck, which have been pretty good so far”.
OM do not want to live in fear, or scare their supporters that manager hopes will turn up in mass on Thursday at the Stade Vélodrome. “It will be very important to have the unconditional support of our public, just like in Lisbon during the first leg, we need the ground to be full and noisy” hopes the Marseille manager.

Still top of their league, Benfica Lisbon have shown that they have the arms necessary to play at the top European level with great footballing names like Saviola or Aimar. “Benfica are capable of scoring. We will have to defend well in view of the intensity and rhythm of the first leg, I’m expecting the same for the return leg, with the desire to pose them problems and to score. They are a solid team, at the level of the Champions League. It will be an elite match at every level, engagement, intensity and technique” warns Didier Deschamps.