Fernandez sees OM mature

Tactical switch
The victory, which also helped to erase memories of Marseille's 3-0 1999 UEFA Cup final loss to Parma FC in the Russian capital, owed much to the tinkering of coach Jean Fernandez, who deployed Lorik Cana in central defence and Habib Beye in midfield when the reverse usually applies. It was a switch which worked wonders, as the Albanian and Senegalese settled seamlessly into their roles to lay the foundations for a fine success.

Great start
Cana, part of the PSG team beaten by CSKA in the UEFA Champions League last season, said beforehand that "playing this tie in Moscow rather than Marseille suits our tactics better", and he was not wrong. Sabri Lamouchi (23) and Mamadou Niang (38) scored the goals, leaving coach Fernandez to reflect: "We played a good first half, creating many opportunities. Players were aware that a good result here could set us up to win the group."

On top
The pool winners will play a third-placed team from another group, and Marseille are already leading the way after FC Dinamo Bucuresti and SC Heerenveen drew 0-0, while PFC Levski Sofia sat out the opening round of matches. Marseille are also bang in form, having recovered from an inauspicious start which saw them propping up Ligue 1 in September to win six of their last eight games. "A team is forming," said Fernandez. "We're not a good team yet but we're certainly improving."

Penalty save
CSKA coach Valeri Gazzaev was not so enthusiastic, dismissing the southern French side as "a mid-table team who were saved by Fabien Barthez". Indeed, Le Divin Chauve - the divine bald - was the star performer on only his second game back from a six-month ban for spitting at a referee, notably when denying Sergei Ignashevich from the penalty spot in the 48th minute. "That saved us a lot of pressure for the rest of the game," said Fernandez.