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* Last-gasp goal gives Bayern the edge

* Stalemate for Marseille and United (adds details, quotes, byline)

By Mike Collett

LONDON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich struck in the last minute to defeat holders Inter Milan 1-0 at the San Siro while Olympique Marseille and Manchester United drew 0-0 in the first legs of their round of 16 ties on Wednesday.

Bayern, beaten 2-0 by Inter coached by Jose Mourinho in last season’s final, scored at the end of normal time when Inter keeper Julio Cesar failed to hold a long-range shot from Arjen Robben and Mario Gomez pounced on the rebound.

Robben earlier exchanged passes with Gomez before firing against the post midway through the second half and Bayern now have a great chance of avenging last season’s final defeat by eliminating Inter in the second leg on March 15.

“Inter surprised me,” Bayern coach Louis van Gaal told reporters.

“They played to win and that is very beautiful. The whole world has seen a wonderful game and I think both sets of fans could be happy with this game.

“That is what football is about and having enjoyment in football. In the final last year, they attacked less than they today and got a better result. But that’s football.”

UNINSPIRING MATCH

Manchester United and Marseille cancelled each other out in a largely uninspiring match at the Stade Velodrome where Marseille’s passionate fans were left frustrated by their team’s failure to break down United’s defence.

“It was a disappointing game,” United manager Alex Ferguson said.

“They made sure they weren’t going to concede a goal. 0-0 can be a dangerous score but we will be better at home” added Ferguson who will be confident of advancing to the last eight at Old Trafford in three weeks time.

“It is not a bad result for us, in the first game it is very important not to concede a goal,” Marseille coach Didier Deschamps said.

“It was a hard game against a big team and my players have done their best.”

Darren Fletcher went closest for United while Brandao’s weak header was all the home side had to show for their increased effort in the second half.

(Editing by Ed Osmond, To comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: Advantage, Bayern, Marseille, Reuters, United

The French outfit are the underdogs for the encounter, but the former Monaco boss believes his charges can knock the Red Devils out of the tournament.

"We're not going to wait for them of course," Deschamps told The Sun.

"We will take the game to them. They have a lot of quality up front but our chance is to create them problems at the back.

"The victory against Chelsea earlier this season, although we were both qualified, was a massive boost for my players. Chelsea played their best side in order to reverse the bad period they were going through.

"In a double header it's more difficult than one game of course. But only in football can you see the smaller team win — it doesn't happen in any other team sport.

"In rugby, basketball, handball the big team always wins. Manchester is not Marseille but we will play our chance even if it's a small one."

The 42-year-old also revealed that he intends to exploit a chink in United's armour, as he has spotted a defensive frailty.

But Deschamps was quick to point out that the Red Devils still remain a strong defensive unit despite the undisclosed "weakness".

He said: "I've spotted their weaknesses at the back of course. I won't tell you those now for sure, but it's certain we will not be content with just defending in the two matches.

"But United do defend very well, they have enormous talent. What interests me more is the different shapes they use. They have different types of organisation and what interests me particularly is how they apply it by the different use of players.

"They sometimes play one striker or two strikers although mostly in Europe they play only one with a reinforced midfield. That's what Sir Alex Ferguson has done every time."

Labels: Deschamps, Didier, Goalcom, Manchester, Marseille, United

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson made light of his injury problems and said he was expecting to meet a powerful and athletic Olympique Marseille team in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs is the latest United casualty and although he is set to be fit for the weekend and defender Rio Ferdinand is also close to a return, the Premier League leaders are depleted for the last-16 first-leg trip to France.

"You are working through a really difficult month in December in terms of the number of games, and then through January we have had a few games too, and it's just the strain of it all," Ferguson told a news conference on Tuesday.

"But you know, we have got a strong squad with us and we carry on.

"I think they are a very powerful team, very athletic, strong defenders. They, like us, have a few injuries."

Ferguson is also wary of the raucous reception inside the Stade Velodrome, where fans create the biggest roar in French football.

"We know from being here before, and also having been to many games here, that it's a fantastic atmosphere here, and that helps Marseille," he said.

Marseille boss Didier Deschamps waxed lyrical about the Premier League leaders.

"They have won lots of games and lots of titles nationally and internationally, and evidently this is symbolised by their manager Alex Ferguson, who is on his 24th season as manager, which is something very exceptional," he said.

"There's this culture of winning, which you find in big clubs, they can change players and can lose good players, but they're replaced by others, and there's always a message passed on by the older players and the guarantee is the manager."

Labels: Eurosport, Injuryhit, Marseille, powerful, prepared, United, Yahoo

PARIS (AP)—Marseille beat Saint-Etienne 2-1 Saturday in the French league to keep up its title challenge.

The defending champion cut Lille’s lead to three points and provisionally moved up to second in the standings. Lille is at Montpellier on Sunday.

Lucho Gonzalez opened the scoring for the defending champion in the 68th minute after being set up by Andre-Pierre Gignac.

Gignac picked up a groin injury however and was replaced by Jordan Ayew in the 74th. Ayew was denied by Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Jeremie Janot in the 78th but Loic Remy followed up to convert the rebound.

Christophe Landrin scored a consolation goal for Saint-Etienne in stoppage time.

Also Saturday, it was: Brest 2, Monaco 0; Lens 2, Sochaux 3; Caen 2, Valenciennes 2; Auxerre 1, Arles-Avignon 1.

Bordeaux played Lorient later on Saturday.

Labels: beats, French, league, Marseille, SaintEtienne

* Gignac and Remy could be doubtful for United game

* Lucho Gonzalez and Remy goals seal victory

(adds details, byline)

By Mark Meadows

PARIS, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Olympique Marseille beat St Etienne 2-1 on Saturday but their preparations for the midweek Champions League clash with Manchester United were hit by injuries to forwards Andre-Pierre Gignac and Loic Remy.

The win sent Didier Deschamps’s side up to second in Ligue 1, three points behind leaders Lille who visit Montpellier on Sunday (1600 GMT).

Lucho Gonzalez finally broke the deadlock for the frustrated champions on 68 minutes when he slotted in Gignac’s pull back and Remy netted the second 10 minutes later from close range.

Christophe Landrin grabbed a goal back for Les Verts in stoppage time.

France striker Gignac, who scored twice in last weekend’s 2-1 win at Sochaux, hobbled off on 74 minutes and the grimace on his face suggested he could be doubtful for Wednesday’s last-16 first leg at home to United.

Remy followed him down the tunnel with what appeared to be an ankle knock soon after scoring his goal.

A third forward, Brandao, was substituted midway through the second half and media reports said he may also be injured.

St Etienne, beaten 4-1 by Olympique Lyon last weekend, had started the brighter at the Stade Velodrome with Gabriel Heinze almost scoring an own goal before the visitors had the ball in the net on 13 minutes only to be thwarted by the offside flag.

Marseille then had two shots cleared off the line straight after each other before finding the breakthrough.

MONACO LOSE

Lyon, who take on Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, are third in the table after defeating AS Nancy 4-0 on Friday but could be overtaken on Sunday when Stade Rennes and Paris St Germain travel to Toulouse and Nice respectively.

Monaco’s hopes of a revival after last Saturday’s win over FC Lorient proved shortlived as they lost 2-0 at Stade Brest to remain third from bottom and in the relegation zone.

Racing Lens are a place below them after a 3-2 home defeat by Sochaux which featured a red card apiece.

Auxerre, in 16th position, and bottom side AC Arles-Avignon did nothing to ease their drop fears by sharing a 1-1 draw while Caen were held 2-2 at home by Valenciennes.

Girondins Bordeaux were playing at Lorient at 2000 GMT with the pressure still on coach Jean Tigana given the 2009 champions’s mid-table malaise.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: Before, clash, injured, Marseille, Reuters, United