Marseille
Vs
AC Milan
Tuesday 15th September 2009
Venue: Stade Velodrome
Kick-off: 19:45
Leonardo targets Champions League boost
AC Milan coach Leonardo is confident his side can turn around their stuttering form when they return to Champions League action at Marseille.
Milan struggled to a goalless draw in Saturday's league game at promoted side Livorno, which followed their 4-0 humiliation at the hands of Inter Milan and meant the club dropped to 10th in the Serie A standings.
Lack of goalscoring has hindered the Rossoneri, with Alessandro Pato the only Milan player to have found the back of the net so far this campaign.
But Leonardo, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti at the helm of the Rossoneri this summer, believes his side are going in the right direction.
"The fact that we haven't won in the last two games means something is missing," admitted Leonardo. "But we are on the right path and I'm confident we will improve.
"We now face Marseille, a team that we know well. They have reinforced their squad this summer with great signings like Lucho Gonzalez and Gabriel Heinze.
"It's great to face a club that also has a lot of history and tradition behind them. We are very motivated."
The visitors will play with Ronaldinho in support of attacking pair Pato and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar as they look to solve their scoring problems in their first match in Europe's elite club competition since March 2008.
"The Champions League is the best competition in existence," said AC Milan defender Massimo Oddo.
"We're delighted to be back playing in this prestigious tournament and we are all excited."
The two teams last played against each other in the Champions League final in 1993 which saw Marseille edge the Italians 1-0 in Munich.
Marseille coach Didier Deschamps, who played for the French side in that game, is not underestimating his opponents.
"Despite their recent results, Milan remain Milan," said the former Juventus tactician.
"Pato, Ronaldinho, Huntelaar, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Flamini, Zambrotta, Jankulovski... they are all players of international calibre.
"Milan are a great team with great players."
Marseille go into the Group C encounter inspired by a 2-1 win at Le Mans that saw them maintain their unbeaten start in Ligue 1 and climb to fourth in the table.
Their fine start is no surprise to Milan goalkeeper Flavio Roma, who played for Deschamps at Monaco and expects a tough game at Stade Velodrome.
"Marseille are a very physical side, just like any other French team," said Roma. "They have great technical quality.
"Deschamps is a coach that is able to prepare these games very well and get the best of his players."
Tomorrow's clash will be a special one for Milan midfielder Mathieu Flamini, who returns to his home town and the club where he began his career.
"I'm returning to the Velodrome and to the club that has remained in my heart," he said. "I'm only at Milan thanks to Marseille's youth programme."
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