After a month long layoff with a knee injury, Marseille fan favorite Mathieu Valbuena has entered L’OM’s UEFA Champions League game with Manchester United in the 79th minute, replacing Loic Remy. Remy had a solid game and ran his socks off between the second half kickoff and his substitution, but that surge seemed to consume all of his energy. Completely spent, Remy has now been replaced by Valbuena, who slots into a right forward role.
Marseille Vs. Manchester United: Mathieu Valbuena Returns From Injury, Replaces Loic Remy
It will be interesting to see how fit Valbuena is and if he looks himself in the final 10 minutes of the game. Didier Deschamps had to strike the delicate balance between not wearing out his star and allowing him enough time to have some kind of an impact on the game. Valbuena has declared to the media that he is fit enough to start a match, but Deschamps was obviously skeptical and has only given him just over 10 minutes to try to influence the game tonight.
On the other side of the field, Manchester United have done much better with passing and keeping the ball since the introduction of Paul Scholes. They’re starting to look more ambitious going forward, but it could be too little, too late.
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