Milan warned to mind the gaps

Didier Deschamps believes AC Milan's attacking instincts could play into Olympique de Marseille's hands as they aim to avenge their 2-1 UEFA Champions League Matchday 1 reverse against the Rossoneri. While Leonardo's side have thrived going forward, they have looked vulnerable at the back at times, something Deschamps is keen to exploit. "We have to pay attention and take advantage of spaces they leave," said the former Juventus coach, whose side put six past FC Zürich last time out. Milan are level with Real Madrid CF on seven points at the Group C summit, one ahead of OM, and Leonardo is no mood to sacrifice his attacking principles as the Rossoneri look for the win that would confirm their place in the last 16.

Leonardo, Milan coach
People say we take too many risks and it's true; but this team is built to attack. It is a calculated risk. We like to attack so it is almost inevitable we concede more than we should. We want our supporters to return home having watched an entertaining game. I think Marseille have a similar outlook. Borriello will undergo a few tests in the afternoon to see how his knee is, but we will do all we can to have him available. He's important for us. There are no problems with Gattuso or Inzaghi, although they aren't playing as much as they used to. Gattuso just has a few physical issues and that's why he is not playing that much.

Didier Deschamps, Marseille coach
Like any coach Leonardo wants a good balance to his team. He has a lot of talented players so he chooses to field an attacking team – they showed that philosophy in their last game. It's true they concede a lot, but I think one reason for that was Alessandro Nesta's absence. When he plays it's a different story. We have to pay attention and take advantage of the spaces they leave. When they have the ball they can do really well. If I had to compare the Milan we faced in September and Real Madrid, I'd say Milan were the better team, but I don't think Milan are playing that well anymore even if they are more dangerous up front.

Weekend results
22/11/09 Milan 4-3 Cagliari Calcio
(Seedorf 5, Borriello 39, Pato 40, Ronaldinho 62pen; Matri 9, Lazzari 30, Nenê 69)

• The result extended Milan's unbeaten run in all competitions to nine matches, including six wins. It was the first time they had scored more than three goals in a game since defeating Torino FC 5-1 on 19 April.

• Pato now has six goals in eight games.

20/11/09 Marseille 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain FC
(Heinze 25)

• Having scored eleven goals in their previous two outings, one was enough for Marseille in a game originally scheduled for 25 October, but rearranged after PSG were quarantined by an outbreak of swine flu.

• Gabriel Heinze's goal was his first in Ligue 1 in almost six years, since earning former side PSG a 1-1 draw at AS Monaco FC in January 2004. Five months later he ended a three-season stay in the capital by joining Manchester United FC.

Team news
Milan
Out: Oguchi Onyewu (knee), Marek Jankulovski (ankle), Davide Di Gennaro (foot)
Doubtful: Mathieu Flamini (ankle), Marco Borriello (knee), Gennaro Gattuso (thigh)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Gianluca Zambrotta

Marseille
Out: Julien Rodriguez (ankle)
Doubtful: Stéphane Mbia (ankle), Cyril Rool (knee)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Brandão, Stéphane Mbia

Background
• The story of the first game between Milan and Marseille at Stade Vélodrome was of trademark finishing from Filippo Inzaghi, who scored in each half with Heinze on target for the hosts early in the second period.

• Having won seven of their first nine home games against French opposition, drawing the others, Milan lost their tenth 2-0 to LOSC Lille Métropole in the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League group stage.

• Marseille became the first French team to lift the European Champion Clubs' Cup when Basile Boli's 43rd-minute goal earned victory over Milan at Munich's Olympiastadion on 26 May 1993.

Did you know?
Milan have not won in their last four UEFA Champions League matches at San Siro.

For more information on the match in the official press kit, click here.