Olympique Marseille have ground to make up in Group F without a single point while the three other teams, including matchday three opponents SSC Napoli, have at least one victory to their name. Arsenal put their perfect record in Group F on the line against last year’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund, the second time the sides have been paired together in the UEFA Champions League in three seasons.
What to expect from the Matches
Élie Baup’s Marseille opened with a 2-1 home defeat against Arsenal and subsequently went down 3-0 at Borussia Dortmund. Napoli had opened with a 2-1 home win against last season’s runners-up but came unstuck in their second fixture, losing 2-0 at Arsenal. The sides have never met before. Napoli, in only their second UEFA Champions League group stage campaign, have not encountered French opponents since the 1992/93 UEFA Cup second round when a 0-0 draw away to Paris Saint-Germain followed a 2-0 home defeat in which George Weah got both goals.
Marseille took on Inter Milan in the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League round of 16, winning 1-0 at home with an André Ayew goal in added time. It was crucial in helping them go through after the second leg ended 2-1 to Inter. OM’s results against Serie A sides at the Stade Vélodrome are W5 D1 L2; overall it is W7 D5 L6.
On the other hand, Arsenal followed up their win at Olympique Marseille by beating Napoli on matchday two. The Italian club had overcome Dortmund in their first fixture, the German club bouncing back by beating Marseille. The teams last met in 2011/12 when two Robin van Persie goals gave Arsenal the points at home despite Shinji Kagawa’s added-time response. Arsenal’s home record against German clubs is W9 D1 L3; overall it is W13 D5 L8.
The Gunners are in the group stage for the 16th season in a row. For the sixth time in eight campaigns they had to negotiate a qualifying round, dispatching Fenerbahçe 5-0 on aggregate in the play-offs with Aaron Ramsey scoring three times. Dortmund are in their ninth UEFA Champions League campaign. They were victorious in the 1997 edition and last season was their most successful campaign since then.
Player to watch out for
Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal): Ramsey has scored nine goals in 12 games for Arsenal this season (and two in four for Wales); he managed five in 91 club appearances in the previous two campaigns. His understanding with summer signing Mesut Ozil has been exemplary, and with Santi Cazorla returning to the fold, the dynamism of the Arsenal midfield should be a joy to watch.
Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli): Insigne became the first Napoli player to appear for Italy at the Stadio San Paolo since Fernando De Napoli in 1990 when he took to the field for the Azzurri’s 2-2 draw with Armenia in FIFA World Cup qualifying on 15 October. The talented Italian will look to make an impact on this game.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Borussia Dortmund): Mkhitaryan scored Armenia’s second goal in a 2-2 draw with Italy in Naples, and also has been in great form for Die Borussen. He has been an ever-present for the German side and his late runs into the box will be a cause for concern for the Arsenal defense.
Predicted Score lines & Starting line ups
Marseille 1-3 Napoli
Napoli are too strong to be affected by a Marseille side which have failed to make an impact on the group, and are likely to suffer their third straight defeat.
Arsenal 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Of all the opponents the North Londoners have faced so far this season, Die Borussen would easily be the most difficult ones. If anyone can escape from the Emirates with three points these days, it’s them. However, that seems unlikely with the form Arsenal has shown this season, and The Gunners should edge Dortmund considering they are at home.