| Champions League, Gp C, Matchday 1 - 15/9/09 (19.45 UK)
Marseille 1 - 2 Milan
Inzaghi 28, 75 (Mi), Heinze 49 (Ma)
Stade Velodrome, Marseille
Pippo Inzaghi confirmed his Champions League pedigree as his brace gave Milan a 2-1 victory in Marseille.
The Rossoneri have been struggling badly all season, so Coach Leonardo took drastic measures on his Champions League debut by benching Ronaldinho and summer signing Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. He went with the experience of Pippo Inzaghi, Massimo Oddo, Clarence Seedorf and ex-Marseille midfielder Mathieu Flamini. Bakari Kone was out with a knee injury for the home side, while Gennaro Gattuso was recovering from an ankle problem.
These clubs met in the first ever Champions League Final in 1993, which saw the French side win 1-0, even though they were later stripped of their Ligue title the same season for match-fixing.
Milan had a good start, as a free kick took some deflections around the box until Kabore' needed a goalline clearance, a dangerous situation in the pouring rain.
Inzaghi's smart counter was threading through for Pato, but a brave defensive intervention intercepted to prevent a certain goal. Moments later Niang sprinted on to a long pass over the top and as Storari rushed out his lob was over the empty net.
Pato drilled wide on the counter from a very tricky angle, but a Niang angled drive took a deflection to skim the crossbar.
Milan took the lead 28 minutes in at the Velodrome with their veteran Inzaghi. Pato spun round between three defenders to pass it to Seedorf, who crossed for the unmarked Inzaghi to volley low at the back post. There were suspicions of offside, so it was a 'classic' SuperPippo style goal.
Pato had a good chance, but was leaning back and only scuffed the shot from nine yards on Oddo's splendid pass.
Inzaghi almost got a second, as the Thiago Silva free kick was curled in and missed his head by inched, prompting some panicked defending.
Niang curled over from the edge of the box after Oddo gave the ball away cheaply. In first half stoppages, Storari's palms were stung by a dangerous Cheyrou snapshot.
Gabriel Heinze equalised for Marseille after the restart, rising to nod in a Cheyrou free kick from seven yards. Once again, Milan struggle to defend against set plays and in this case it was Oddo who lost his man.
Lucho hit a powerful half-volley over the bar from distance, as Olympique were pouring forward. Gattuso came off the bench to replace Massimo Ambrosini, as the French outfit was now pouring forward and fired up by that equaliser.
Flamini was booked for a two-footed tackle and Lucho ballooned a Niang counter well over with his right foot. Inzaghi had penalty appeals for a Heinze push waved away as a corner was floated in.
Niang was a constant danger and his deflected pass found Lucho, effectively hitting his shin to go wide from seven yards.
Just as Milan were struggling, Inzaghi restored their lead in France. Andrea Pirlo took a free kick quickly and Seedorf placed a brilliant cross with the outside of his right foot for SuperPippo to get his toe in front of Diawara from six yards.
Niang turned a Cheyrou free kick past the near post, but Milan were furious when Mandanda appeared to handle outside the box. The referee waved play on, as the ball took an irregular bounce.
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Olympique Marseille: Mandanda; Kaboré, Diawara, Heinze, Taiwo; Cissé (Morientes 88), Mbia, Cheyrou; Lucho (Ben Arfa 76); Brandao, Niang
Milan: Storari; Oddo, Thiago Silva, Nesta, Zambrotta; Ambrosini, Pirlo, Flamini; Seedorf (Abate 93); Pato, Inzaghi (Huntelaar 87)
Ref: Bo Larsen (Den)
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