Manchester United FC Vs. Marseille, 2011 UEFA Champions League, Preview: Two Posturing Sides Enter Second Leg, Scoreless

Marseille made a number of significant changes on Friday against Stade Rennes, adjustments Didier Deschamps may have made with Tuesday's UEFA Champions League match against Manchester United in mind. Stephan Mbia moved out of central defense and into his natural midfield position. Gabriel Heinze moved in from left full back, a position where he could be exploited by Nani or Antonio Valencia. The quicker, more athletic and better attacking Taye Taiwo took his place, with Andre Ayew starting in front of him as Andre-Pierre Gignac moved to the middle. The changes paid off, Marseille defeating Rennes 2-0, declaring themselves ready for Old Trafford.

Manchester United made even more changes this weekend, but rather than those adjustments portending Alex Ferguson's approach against l'OM. his choices against Arsenal were made to protect the team he hopes to play on Tuesday. None of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes or Antonio Valencia saw more than a half. Each could start the second leg. Both Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher sat out, as did Dimitar Berbatov and the injured Rio Ferdinand. In all, more then half the XI Ferguson could choose on Tuesday were exempt from the full 90 Saturday against Arsenal.

None of which tells us how United will play on Tuesday. That's the fun of previewing these Red Devil matches: You never know how Alex Ferguson is going to play. This weekend, he seemed to start 4-4-2 but the formation played as a 4-5-1, with Wayne Rooney playing a central midfield role. At Stade Vélodrome, United also played 4-5-1 but with Rooney on the left. The squad can also be deployed as a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. As such, it's a fools errand to try and predict Ferguson's choices, as evidenced by the da Silva twins getting starts in midfield this weekend.

Complicating matters for those pondering United (like Deschamps), none of those formations are informative of approach. Manchester United can play off the counter with a lone striker, but they're also capable of playing a possession game. Likewise, their tactics are flexible in their 4-3-3, and against Chelsea their 4-4-2 led to possession football, where that formation often sees the Red Devils making direct movements down their flanks (mostly the right). United will adapt to what Marseille gives them, part of the reason they were able to attack Heinze early in the first leg. It's a tactical flexibility that underscores their long-term success.

Deschamps will come out in a 4-3-3 but will have made another important change from the first leg. Brandão is out of the team, dealing with off-the-pitch issues. That moves Andre-Pierre Gignac, who missed the first leg, in from the left wing. Ayew will get another start up top, and with Loic Rémy on the opposite flank, Marseille will be able to stress John O'Shea and Patrick Evra. That will gives Gignac a chance to win one-on-one battles against Nemanja Vidic and Chris Smalling.

Even with those subtle, individual advantages Marseille holds, you can't help but wonder what Alex Ferguson is capable of given two weeks to digest what he saw in France. L'OM is unlikely to drastically change their approach, which makes them a sitting duck for a highly adaptable team like United. Yet the same could have said for Bayern Munich last year, and FCB was able to leave Old Trafford having advanced to the semifinals. The Bavarians were aided by a 2-1 win at the Allainz two weeks before (whereas Marseille is drawn, 0-0, coming into this one), but it's not difficult to see a similar turn this year.

For Manchester United, Darren Fletcher is doubtful, as is Nemanja Vidic, who aggravated a calf injury on Monday. With Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans out, we could again see Wes Brown and Chris Smalling in central defense. Park Ji-Sung, Anderson, Michael Owen are other misses for United. The good news: Nani is expected to return.