MSK Zilina vs Marseille preview - Hapal hoping for succees

Posted Wednesday, November 03, 2010 by PA

MSK Zilina may still be without a point in this season's Champions League, but ahead of the game with Marseille, coach Pavel Hapal is confident his men can start to prove their worth.

Defeat to the French side on matchday three, as well as previous losses to Chelsea and Spartak Moscow, have left Zilina rooted to the foot of Group F and in desperate need of a win against Marseille to keep their slim qualification hopes alive.

"The first half of the Champions League has not been very productive for us in terms of points but our performances will improve," Hapal said.

"Hopefully the next three games will be successful. The first game against Marseille was promising. We proved that night that we were a good team. Marseille were scared until the end of the match."

Hapal's thoughts were backed up by his captain, Robert Jez, who believes that Marseille should have plenty to be wary of.

"It's never nice to lose but that did not leave a trace with the team," he said.

"Spartak and Marseille are the same level but the difference is, against Spartak, we played badly. In Marseille, our performance was better.

"It will be a tough match. We realise that if we do not win, our chances of staying in the Champions League will be over."

Hapal has no serious injury problems to contend with ahead of the game, with Babatounde Bello (knee) and Mario Pecalka (ankle) both proving their fitness over recent weeks.

Edouard Cisse will be missing for Marseille, having failed to shake off the hamstring injury he picked up in the 1-0 cup win over Guingamp last week. He is hopeful of a return ahead of the clash with Paris St Germain on Sunday but will miss this game, as will Hilton (groin).

Marseille's league game with Rennes at the weekend was postponed because of the weather, and striker Loic Remy is hopeful that the disruption to their schedule will not affect their preparations.

He told his club's official website, www.om.net: "The postponement messed up our schedule as we were prepared to play the game. But they are the hazards.

"Preparation for the Champions League is different. It is in the head and the legs."