Marseille warm to the new Waddle

Outstanding performer
Ribéry has been Marseille's outstanding performer since his free-transfer move from Galatasaray SK in the summer, and the Ligue 1 club will be looking for more inspiration from their 22-year-old playmaker against the UEFA Cup holders in the Russian capital.

Dynamic style
A diminutive winger, Ribéry's dynamic style has made him an instant hit with the Marseille fans, who have lacked an iconic figure since the departure of Didier Drogba in 2004. The French Under-21 international is delighted with his first steps in the south. "Everything has gone well since I arrived," he told uefa.com. "The supporters seem to appreciate the way I play because I'm very direct and I try to make things happen when I'm in possession. I'm not afraid to try the spectacular."

Waddle comparison
Marseille have had their share of spectacular players through the years, and Ribéry has already been compared to former Stade Vélodrome favourite Chris Waddle by coach Jean Fernandez. He admits to feeling flattered, saying: "To be compared with Waddle is a pleasure. He was a great dribbler and the fans loved him because he was so daring. I was only young, but I remember watching the great Marseille team of Waddle, [Jean-Pierre] Papin and [Abedi] Pelé on television. They were real entertainers."

PSG win
If the current side are some way off matching the all-conquering team of the late 1980s and early 1990s, they seem to be on the right track again under Fernandez this term. After an indifferent opening, they have won five of their last six Ligue 1 matches, including Sunday's 1-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain, and are just three points off second place.

'Perfect present'
Ribéry is confident the club are moving in the right direction. "Beating PSG was the perfect present for the fans - it's such a special game," said the former FC Metz man. "The fans stood by us at the start of the season, and now the results are improving. Everyone is playing with more freedom, no one is scared to shoot and we're communicating better on the pitch."

Thrilling victories
As has often been the case, Marseille seem to be saving their best displays for Europe. They won the UEFA Intertoto Cup after thrilling home victories against S.S. Lazio (3-0) and RC Deportivo La Coruña (5-1), then edged into the UEFA Cup group stage by overcoming KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen in a penalty shootout.

'A big club'
UEFA Cup runners-up in 2003/04, Ribéry hopes Marseille can go on a similar run. "These European nights are so important for the club and for the supporters," he said. "You only had to see the atmosphere against Lazio and Deportivo to realise that. Marseille are a big club and it's crucial that we're playing European football. It might not be the UEFA Champions League, but everyone saw the excitement created when Marseille reached the final two years ago."

'A difficult group'
Grouped with PFC Levski Sofia, SC Heerenveen, FC Dinamo Bucuresti and tonight's opponents CSKA, Ribéry knows success cannot be guaranteed. "It seems to be a difficult group, even if I don't know much about the other teams," he said. "Every side in this competition will be hard to beat, but we've already shown our potential this season and we're starting to grow in confidence."