Keep in touch with us to let us know how you’re feeling as the night progresses. Email niall@thescore.ie, tweet us @thescore_ie, or leave a comment below. Go on – we’re needy like that.
Parting Shot That wasn’t great, was it? Ah well, at least nobody was hurt. Well except for Fabregas and Walcott, but that’s par for the course in a game against Stoke.
There was no away goal for United who will really have to do a little bit better if they are to see Marseille off in two weeks.
The Inter-Bayern game was far more exciting with plenty of poorly-executed chances to keep us all entertained. Bayern possibly just shaded it, although they too would have been going home empty-handed had it not been for the generosity of Julio Cesar.
That’s all from me for this evening. Thanks for stopping by. See you all bright and early in the morning.
21:57 The Gomez goal has surfaced online. Click here to see it on the magnificent 101GreatGoals.com
21:40 There haven’t been too many goals this evening, so we might as well enjoy what we’ve got.
Here’s Squillaci’s goal which proved to be the winner at the Emirates.
21:37 And it’s full time at the Emirates. Arsenal 1-0 Stoke – but at what cost?
21:35 Full Time Inter Milan 0-1 Bayern Munich
21:33 GOAL! Inter Milan 0-1 Bayern Munich (Gomez 89′) Oh dear, that is disastrous from Julio Cesar. Robben’s 25-yard shot was straight at him, but he spilled it straight into Gomez’s path and the Bayern striker made no mistake.
An 89th minute away goal? That’s about as close to a game-changer as they come.
21:32 Full Time Marseille 0-0 Manchester United Thank God.
21:31 Eto’o very nearly just stole a winner for Inter, but his shot was deflected around the post. Barely.
21:30 Corner to Marseille. 89th minute … but he can’t clear Berbatov at the near post.
21:28 Nothing to report really. Into the last three minutes in France, last five in Italy.
21:24 Scholes commits an unnecessary foul, and the world’s natural order is restored.
21:23 Berb tries to slip one through to Nani, but Mandanda gets down to steal it off his toe. Just under ten minutes to go at the Velodrome.
21:19 No matter how many times United have turned similar positions to their advantage, I simply cannot see them scoring tonight. A draw is probably a fair result in both games, though how it is still 0-0 in Italy I will never understand.
21:17 There are 15 minutes left in France, slightly longer in Italy. Tick, tock, tick …
21:15 Darron Gibson is off for United, wee Scholesy is on his place. I’m counting the minutes until he puts in a terrible tackle.
21:13 Stoke are continuing to kick Arsenal around at the Emirates. Walcott is stretchered off after a heavy tackle from Dean Whitehead. Well, if you can’t beat them, kick them.
21:12 If this doesn’t start to improve soon, I may resort to making Rod Fanni puns. Though I’m not really sure how I can improve upon that.
21:10 Nani, what is wrong with you? Instead of striking through the ball, he attempts a ridiculous flick with the outside of his heel to play Berbatov in. It doesn’t come off.
21:09 Gabi Heinze makes sure that everybody remembers that he’s playing by steering a lovely defensive header back to Mandanda.
21:07 If you backed 0-0 in the Inter-Bayern game, I’d sit on it. If you backed 0-0 in France, I’d get rid of it. Call it a hunch.
21:05 While I was distracted by a rare moment of excitement in France, Inter have missed another glorious chance in the San Siro. Kraft makes another great save from Eto’o, but when the ball breaks to Cambiasso, he should score. He has to. He doesn’t.
21:03 Marseille really, really should have scored there. Ayew drove the ball across the face of the United goal. All Brandao needed to do was stick his foot out at the back post but instead he tried to stare it into the goal. Needless to say, he failed.
21:00 Opta Jean, Opta Joe’s French cousin, has just tweeted the following. Stats love.
20:57 Well played, Christian Chivu. As Robben bears down on goal, the helmeted defender forces him wider and wider. When Robben eventually gets his shot off, he’s been pushed so far wide that the best he can do is hit the post. Still, it’s another very good chance for Bayern. Which is just as well, because the Marseille-United game is absolute pants.
20:54 Cesc Watch The Beeb are reporting that Fabregas was taken off as a precaution rather than because he was crocked. It’ll all be ok, Arsenal fans.
20:51 Unsurprisingly the first chance of the second half comes in Italy. Great ball in from the right by Robben, but when Muller tries to glance it into the far corner, he fails to make any real contact and the ball drifts harmlessly wide.
20:49 And we’re back underway at the San Siro.
20:47 Back underway in France and the Emirates. Teams just coming out in Italy.
20:37 Brief summary. Marseille-United is utterly uninispiring, though I’d say Didier Deschamps won’t be too distraught with a clean sheet at the end of the evening. Inter-Bayern is much more open, but the standard of finishing has been poor at best.
The kettle’s on, I’ll be back in a couple of minutes. Get in touch to let us know your thoughts.
20:35 Half-time at the Emirates as well. Arsenal 1-0 Stoke.
20:34 Shirt-Swap Watch Ribery and Maicon were obviously afraid that one of them would be subbed before the end of the game. They exchange gifts as they leave the field for the half-time break.
20:33 Ooh. Late chance for Maicon to put Inter one up, but he can’t keep his shot on target. That’s the last action of the half, so it’s finishes Inter Milan 0-0 Bayern Munich.
20:31 Half-time in France. Olympique Marseille 0-0 Manchester United
20: 30 Van der Sar kicks a goal-kick straight out of play. I blame the wind.
20:29 Scimitar Berbatov is throwing elbows around like nobody’s business in the Marseille penalty area. M’bia, who is marking him, isn’t too happy. The referee, who is standing well out of the Bulgarian’s range, waves play on.
20:27 There seems to be a bit of a breeze in the Velodrome. So much so that Andre Ayew nearly scored directly from a corner. Fortunately, van der Sar was on his toes and was able to get down sharply at the near post.
20:26 George Hamilton has just compared Marseille – United to last week’s Arsenal – Barca game. Unfavourably. That was hardly necessary, was it?
20:24 Referee Viktor Kassai is not a huge Samuel Eto’o fan. He’s just waved away another of the Cameroonian’s penalty shouts, although on first look, this one seemed to be outside the box.
20:22 “There’s not much open football to talk about.” For the first time in a long time, myself and Jim Beglin agree.
20:20 Another great save by Kraft for Bayern. Eto’o tried to just place it in the bottom corner from seven or eight yards out, but the young keeper gets down well to palm it away.
20:18 Nani puts one into the mixer, but Mandanda gets out to it before The Berbatron can get a touch. It’s poor fare in comparison to the San Siro which seems to be the better game despite the fact that there have only been two shots on target, both for Inter.
20:15 Brandao tries a Rooney-esque bicycle kick from the edge of the box. It dribbles wide. Why bother?
20:13 Oh dear. The ball falls to Gomez six yards out but, instead of putting Bayern 1-0 up, he swipes at the chance and skies it. There’s a goal coming soon. Not sure for who though.
20:11 Marseille are well-involved at the Velodrome. They’re hassling United at every possible oppportunity and not giving the visitors any real time on the ball. That said, they’re yet to create any real chances themselves.
20:08 As I write that, Ribery hits the top of the crossbar with a header. Robben’s ball in to the box was sumptuous, nothing less. To those of you watching United, you might be better off sticking on Sky Sports 2 for a little while.
20:07 It’s all Inter in the San Siro. Kraft has to react sharply to stop Cambiasso from five yards out.
20:03 Another great chance for Inter. This time, Stankovich is the guilty party. The Nerazzurri just had a penalty shout turned down as well as Eto’o took a tumble in the box. Sneijder thought it was a pen. I’m not so sure.
20:01 The national broadcaster is outdoing itself with the poor quality of its coverage this evening. Some technical problem means that Hamilton and Beglin keep repeating themselves. Some technical problem means that Hamilton and Beglin keep repeating themselves.
19:59 Looks like a hamstring problem for Fabregas. No idea how serious it is, but I’ll let you know as soon as I know. Arshavin’s on in his place.
19:58 Although jubilant Arsenal fans might want to look away right about now. Fabregas appears to be struggling – with what I’m not sure – and Arshavin looks likely to replace him presently. Uh oh.
19:53 GOAL! (Arsenal 1-0 Stoke, Squillaci) The French defender heads home after a goalmouth scramble. How utterly predictable.
19:52 Free-kick in a dangerous position for United. Nani hits the wall, but the ball breaks to Fletcher on the edge of the box and he drives it low through the crowded box where Mandanda saves at the second attempt.
19:50 Before there are any goals, I would like to make the following predictions.
Inter 2-1 Bayern
Marseille 0-2 United
If you’re partial to a gamble, I’d advise you to put your money elsewhere.
19:48 Niall Murphy has cracked the reason behind Obertan’s inclusion. “Only one reason Obertan is on the bench. He scares small children if left outside the ground.” What do you reckon?
19:46 Early Chance Watch Inter should be one up already. Sneijder clipped a free-kick into the box, but the unmarked Ranocchia could only volley wide with the side of his foot. He’ll be disappointed.
19:45 We’re underway in the San Siro. And, seconds later, in the Velodrome. As Delia would say, let’s be havin’ ya.
19:44 More importantly, l’OM are missing striker Andre-Pierre Gignac through injury. He’s a bit of a lump, but he’s been in good form of late and Didier Deschamps men will miss him.
19:41 A few disconnected thoughts about Manchester United’s opponents this evening.
1 – Marseille play at the Stade Velodrome. When playing World Cup Monopoly ’98 as a child (it’s a game, ok), I used to regularly acquire said stadium.
2 – Their club motto is Droit au but which, when translated poorly, means “straight to goal”. Applies in life as well as football I suppose …
3 – Ghanaian Andre Ayew plays just off the striker this evening. His father, Abedi “Pele” Ayew was crowned African Footballer of the Year on three consecutive occasions (1991-1993).
19:39 For some unknown reason, Eamon Dunphy is talking about Tiger Woods personal conduct which “must have violated his spirit and his soul.” You won’t see better analysis than that over the next two hours.
19:33 Alright, let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way – Rod Fanni has the greatest name of all time. There, I’ve said it. And I make no apologies for it.
19:27 There is one Premier League game tonight as well, with long-ball merchants Stoke taking on sexy-football merchants Arsenal at the North London library.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Squillaci, Djourou, Clichy, Fabregas, Song, Wilshere, Walcott, Bendtner, Nasri. Subs: Almunia, Rosicky, Denilson, Arshavin, Eboue, Gibbs, Chamakh.
Stoke: Begovic, Wilson, Shawcross, Huth, Pugh, Pennant, Whitehead, Delap, Whelan, Walters, Carew. Subs: Sorensen, Higginbotham, Collins, Jones, Fuller, Diao, Wilkinson.
19:22 Let’s forget our supposed Anglo-centric bias for a moment – is anyone else really looking forward to seeing Sneijder, Eto’o, Schweinsteiger, Robben and Ribery on the same pitch tonight? I get the feeling that I will end up paying slightly more attention to events at the San Siro as the night progresses.
Inter Milan: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Ranocchia, Lucio, Chivu, Zanetti, Cambiasso, Motta, Sneijder, Stankovic, Eto’o. Subs: Castellazzi, Kharja, Mariga, Materazzi, Pandev, Coutinho, Nagatomo.
Bayern Munich: Kraft, Lahm, Tymoschuk, Badstuber, Pranjic, Schweinsteiger, Gustavo, Robben, Muller, Ribery, Gomez. Subs: Butt, Breno, Van Buyten, Altintop, Ottl, Klose, Kroos.
19:18 Ok, team news. A couple of strange ones in the United line-up, particularly the selection of Darren Gibson ahead of Paul Scholes. Fergie knows best, I hear you cry. Maybe so, but if that’s the case, then what in the name of good god is Gabriel Obertan doing on the bench? I thought Crawley signed him up after last Saturday’s “performance.”
Marseille: Mandanda, Fanni, M’bia Etoundi, Diawara, Heinze, Cisse, Kabore, Remy, Gonzalez, Andre Ayew, Brandao. Subs: Andrade, Taiwo, Hilton, Cheyrou, Jordan Ayew, Abriel, Valbuena.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Smalling, Vidic, Evra, Gibson, Carrick, Fletcher, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney. Subs: Kuszczak, Brown, Hernandez, Scholes, Fabio Da Silva, Rafael Da Silva, Obertan
Opening Salvo Ah, yes. Another day, another night of Champions League action. As last sixteen ties go, tonight is actually quite tasty. Alex Ferguson and his merry men travel to France where they take on an Olympique Marseille side who currently lie third in France’s Ligue 1.
Meanwhile, though they may have revelled in their neighbours’ downfall against Spurs last week, the blue half of Milan will be hoping that the San Siro is home to some slightly happier scenes this week. Internazionale welcome Louis van Gaal and Bayern Munich in a repeat of last year’s Champions League final.
We’ll have the team news shortly. There’s still a half an hour until kick-off, so there’s plenty of time to make sure you’re fed and watered. Be back soon, ya hear me?
