Atletico Madrid 2-1 Olympique Marseille

Two first half goals were enough to give Atletico Madrid a victory over Marseille at the Vicente Calderón. Sergio ‘Kun’ Agüero fired the hosts into a fourth minute lead, before Mamadou Niang equalised for the French team (16). However, Raul Garcia put the Spaniards back in front to give them a half-time lead (22). The game quietened down in the second period and Atletico were able to hold on for all three points to put them in an excellent position with 6 points out of six ahead of their double-header against Liverpool. Atletico welcomed back John Heitinga in defence for the match, although Simao and Diego Forlan were out through injury, meaning that Miguel started the game. The visitors packed the midfield with five players, naming Niang as their lone striker. It took just four minutes for the deadlock to be broken. Captain Maxi Rodriguez chipped in superbly before Agüero stopped the ball dead and tucked his shot past Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda. It was so nearly two just moments later after Agüero combined superbly with Garcia before the Argentinean star attempted to chip the ball over Mandanda, who scrambled back to save the attempt. Rodriguez forced Mandanda into another save with a dipping long-range effort before Taye Taiwo should have done better with a free header in what was proving to be a lively start to the game. Garcia then struck wide after being set-up by Florent Sinama-Pongolle before Niang levelled for the equaliser with a perfectly timed header after losing his marker. Atletico soon got back in front, however. Mariano Pernia flighted in a tremendous free-kick and Garcia got the faintest of touches on it to divert the ball into the back of the net. The game quietened slightly before half-time, although the Spaniards did create another opportunity just before the break. Sinama-Pongolle lead a counter-attack from the right before laying off Pernia, who sent an excellent cross right across the face of goal – but no one had gambled for the hosts and Marseille were able to clear. Ex-Liverpool man Boudewijn Zenden had to come on for the injured Hatem Ben Afra on the left-hand side for the visitors just after the interval, as the game quietened down significantly. Rodriguez came close with an exquisite flick for the home side and Sinma-Pongolle forced a terrific save out of Mandanda with twenty-five minutes remaining. The French side did increase the pressure as the half wore on, but found it difficult to create many clear-cut chances. Niang came closest with just two minutes left on the clock when he struck powerfully from the left, with the ball beating Atleti ‘keeper Leo Franco but swerving just wide of the post. However, the Spaniards had done enough in the first half to secure the win, meaning Marseille go into their clashes with PSV Eindhoven under big pressure.