Olympique de Marseille - Bayern Munich: Didier Deschamps' outfit takes on German giants in Champions League quarterfinals

Posted Friday, March 16, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

Marseille has often left things late in the Champions League this season, but ultimately it has always managed to do just enough to progress into the next stage. It needed a spectacular late strike from Mathieu Valbuena to book its passage through the to the last 16, dramatically turning around a 2-0 deficit away to Dortmund to qualify from the group stages, and it was at it again in the knockout round as Brandao scored a crucial away goal after 91 minutes at Inter.

OM’s hopes of further progression were damaged in the closing stages of its clash at San Siro, with the concession of a late penalty leading to the dismissal of goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, who has been a rock for the Ligue 1 side in the competition thus far.

Mathieu Valbuena and, in particular, striker Loic Remy will now shoulder much of the weight of expectation on the 1993 European champions, who are in the quarterfinals for the first time since that triumph.

The Roten went through a difficult spell between November and the end of February, but after hammering Basel 7-0 in a record-setting performance, are quite clearly back at their best.

They proved their class by winning the so-called Group of Death, which included a dominant display in a 2-0 win against Manchester City - if they can replicate that performance, they stand a good chance against any side. Bayern will have to work on its form away from home, but at the Allianz Arena, it is very hard to see it losing. Having conceded just seven times on home soil, should it reach the final, it will have a good chance against any opposition.