The only ever French club to win the Champions League, Marseille, make their return to Europe’s top table after seven seasons as they travel to Greece to take on Olympiakos. The inaugural champions will travel to Piraeus for their Group C opener with both teams aiming to hit the ground running in a group consisting of Manchester City and Porto.
Olympiakos conceded 14 goals as they finished third in their group last year behind Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur and dropped down to the Europa League and knocked out Arsenal (winning at the Emirates) before being beaten in the last sixteen by Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Greek club made their return to this competition via the qualification rounds defeating Cypriot side Omonia in the final play-off round 2-0 on aggregate. The hosts have started their domestic campaign with three wins and one draw whilst scoring 10 goals and conceding just once. Olympiakos are also beaten in seven matches since defeat to Wolves in their last European outing.
Marseille will mark their return to UCL action on Wednesday evening after finishing second in Ligue 1 last season with the league being called to an abrupt halt. The French club actually came here and won back in 2011, 1-0, but their form coming into this game won’t give them much confidence of replicating that feat. Marseille have won just three of their first seven Ligue 1 games although their win over Bordeaux at the weekend was a timely one coming into this game and ended a four game winless streak.
Olympiakos don't concede many goal and I know Marseille will be a step above the quality of Greek sides that the hosts face on a weekly basis. However, winning is a good habit and keeping clean sheets is vitally important to a team's confidence. If we combine that with Marseille's apparent inability to keep the opposition out I feel Olympiakos will have their moments in this game and I'm backing them to win either half of this game.