Marseille face up to Fenerbahçe

Olympique de Marseille will look to keep their knockout stage hopes afloat as UEFA Europa League Group C leaders Fenerbahçe SK return to France.

• It is theoretically possible for Fenerbahçe not to qualify despite having picked up ten points already, but a draw against Marseille would confirm their round of 32 place. OM will be out if they lose and VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach beat AEL Limassol FC.

Previous meetings
• Marseille struck with seconds left to snatch a 2-2 draw when the sides met for the first time on matchday one. Caner Erkin and Alex had put Fenerbahçe on top, but Mathieu Valbuena (83) struck back before André Ayew headed his side level deep into added time.

• Fenerbahçe's record in 16 games against French sides is W3 D3 L10 (W2 D3 L3 in Istanbul – W1 D0 L7 in France). Those fixtures include a 1959/60 European Champion Clubs' Cup first round replay, which the Yellow Canaries lost 5-1 to OGC Nice on neutral territory in Geneva.

• Fenerbahçe have lost their last four games in France since beating FC Girondins de Bordeaux 3-2 in the first round of the 1985/86 UEFA European Champion Clubs' Cup.

• OM's record in five games against Turkish opponents is W2 D2 L1 (W2 D0 L0 in France – W0 D2 L1 in Turkey). They have yet to concede at home against a Turkish side.

• OM met Turkish opposition in the shape of Eskişehirspor en route to the group stage this season. After a 1-1 draw in Turkey in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie, OM progressed with a 3-0 win at home, though the match was played in Istres with the Stade Vélodrome undergoing renovation.

Match background
• Marseille are unbeaten in four European home games this season, during which they have alternated wins and draws. If that pattern is to continue, they are due a win against Fenerbahçe.

• Fenerbahçe are unbeaten in five European games, two draws followed by three victories.

• The Yellow Canaries have won three of their last four European away games, and have lost only three of their last 12 on the road in UEFA competition, winning seven.

Team facts
• Marseille come into their own in the second half – eight of their nine group stage goals have been scored after the break.

• Fenerbahçe defender Joseph Yobo played for Marseille towards the start of his career, making 24 league appearances for the club from 2001-02 before moving on for a long spell at Everton FC.

• Fenerbahçe's French-born Senegal striker Moussa Sow represented Stade Rennais FC (2006-10), CS Sedan-Ardennes (2007-08 loan) and LOSC Lille (2010-12) before moving to Istanbul. He played alongside OM right-back Rod Fanni at Rennes, and midfielder Morgan Amalfitano during his time at Sedan. Sow and OM defender Souleymane Diawara are international team-mates.

• Marseille coach Élie Baup's goalkeeping career ended when he was in a car accident at the age of 20, but he stayed on in the game as a youth coach, moving up to the senior ranks to take charge of AS Saint-Étienne before winning the 1998/99 Ligue 1 title with FC Girondins de Bordeaux. Having coached Toulouse FC and FC Nantes, he became a TV pundit before taking charge at OM in summer 2012.

• Aykut Kocaman made his name with Fenerbahçe as a striker, winning two titles in an eight-year stint from 1988-96. He moved into coaching at Istanbulspor AŞ and, following spells at Malatyaspor, Konyaspor and Ankaraspor, became Fenerbahçe's director of football. He then became coach in 2010, winning the title in his first season and the Turkish Cup in the next campaign.