Manchester United FC Vs. Marseille, 2011 UEFA Champions League: Match Underway

The Champions League knockout tie between Manchester United and Marseille has kicked off at Old Trafford, after a moment of silence for victims of the Japanese earthquake. Marseille in black have gotten us going, and the ball is immediately given back to goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, who punts it upfield and right back down United's throat. Eventually, the ball ends up with Edwin van der Sar, who much more sensibly plays it short and allows United to maintain possession until John O'Shea touches the ball.

So far we're averaging one punt from Mandanda a minute, which isn't really going to make for exciting viewing. It seems as though Marseille are happy to simply get the ball as far away from the goal as possible and hit United on the break, while their hosts are building through the back, albeit not particularly well. It was the hosts who had the first vaguely threatening moment, when a long pass from Ryan Giggs opened up play for Javier Hernandez, Wayne Rooney and Nani to attack, but the cross from the latter was eventually cut out.