UEFA Champions League Matchday 6

Group D

Orange Vélodrome, Marseille

Olympique de Marseille - Tottenham Hotspur FC

- Kick-off at 21:00 CET (20:00 GMT)

Marseille's mixed results in Europe this season - consecutive defeats to Tottenham and Frankfurt followed up by consecutive wins over Sporting and then another defeat to Frankfurt - could have seen Igor Tudor's side relegated to the Europa League or worse already, but other results in the group have been such that every option remains open to OM on the final day of the group stage.

Currently at the foot of Group D, OM can come out on top with a victory over Tottenham (as long as Sporting and Frankfurt draw) and the southern giants have the advantage of playing this crucial fixture against the group favourites in the electric atmosphere of their Orange Vélodrome.  

Marseille, driven on by talismanic midfielder Mattéo Guendouzi - not to mention the legions of crazed fans in the stands - have everything to play for and will be out to use the fervour surrounding the competition to turn the page on a four-match winless streak in all competitions and book a place in the round of 16 for February.

Tudor: 'Play the perfect game'

However, facing the group leaders and the EPL's current third-placed side, Tudor - a veteran of big European evening with Juventus back in the day - knows that the stars will have to align for OM's dreams to come true.  

"You don't win with desire alone. You have to play the perfect game, in attack and in defence," said the Croat, whose stock would rise immeasurably should he outdo his predecessors and take OM through to the knockout rounds of the co petition. "It's the match of the year, and a great opportunity when compared to the club's previous Champions League campaigns."

Payet, Sanchez up front

Tipped to stick with the 3-4-3 formation that drew 2-2 in Strasbourg at the weekend, Tudor has just the one concrete injury concern - midfielder Pape Gueye, who has an unspecified complaint - while opposite number Antonio Conte will have to do without Dejan Kulusevski, Rucharlison and Cristian Romero.

The Croat is tipped to hand a rare start to playmaker and big-game personality Dimitri Payet for this momentous occasion, while hoping that centre-forward Alexis Sanchez - a familiar foe for Tottenham following his time with Arsenal and Manchester United - can work his with Payet and Guendouzi going forward.


Probable teams

Olympique de Marseille: Lopez; Mbemba, Balerdi, Kolasinac; Clauss, Veretout, Rongier (c), Tavares; Guendouzi, Sanchez, Payet

Tottenham Hotspur FC: Lloris (c); Dier, Romero, Davies; Perisic, Sessegnon, Bentancur, Hojbjerg; Kane, Moura, Son