Arsene Wenger knows Olympique Marseille quite well from his years in French soccer, and the Arsenal manager will hope to turn that knowledge into points for his side when it faces Marseille in a key UEFA Champions League battle.
Marseille and Arsenal are in the top two positions, respectively, in Group F, and their meeting is one of the more intriguing matchups on Wednesday's slate.
Chelsea is also in action, facing last-place Belgian foe Genk with a chance to pull further out in front in Group E. The two teams chasing the Blues, Bayer Leverkusen and Valencia, will duke it out in one of the more evenly-matched duels of the day.
Elsewhere, AC Milan and Barcelona each face the underdogs at home in their Group H battles, which could make for some lopsided scorelines as the two favorites try and keep pace with each other.
If you will be watching any of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League matches, please feel free to share any thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below. Enjoy the action (TV schedule is after the jump):
WEDNESDAY'S UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ON TV
2:45 p.m. – Fox Soccer Channel – Marseille vs. Arsenal
2:45 p.m. – Fox Soccer Plus/FoxSoccer.tv/DirecTV – Chelsea vs. Genk
2:45 p.m. – FoxSoccer.tv/Fox Sports Networks/Fox Deportes – Barcelona vs. Viktoria Plzen
2:45 p.m. – FoxSoccer.tv/DirecTV – Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Zenit-St. Petersburg
2:45 p.m. – FoxSoccer.tv/DirecTV – Bayer Leverkusen vs. Valencia
2:45 p.m. - FoxSoccer.tv/DirecTV – Olympiakos vs. Borussia Dortmund
2:45 p.m. - FoxSoccer.tv/DirecTV – Porto vs. APOEL Nicosia
2:45 p.m. - FoxSoccer.tv/DirecTV – AC Milan vs. BATE Borisov
Haha, you bums copying me. But no really this guy’s had a really, really bad outing.
That tackle on Messi was not appropriate for a football match.
Jeez, Barcelona will be sure to see that this official never works another CL game. Seriously call by the rule book. What was that 4 uncalled takedowns in the box? And that studa up tackle into the backof Messi’s leg? Jesus.
Cannot see this official being given another CL/EL game ever. 4 uncalled penalties for Barcelona, some nasty uncalled tackles, and a studs up slide through the back of Messi’s achilles that is waved on? That was a career ender.
And wow, no chance this official ever works another big match in his life.
Messi is injured. Pilsen man studs up through the back of Messi’s achilles and no call!
Man this Barcelona referee is having a shocker of a game. 3 clear as day penalties not given to Barcelona, and now the last man defender raises his arm up to intentionally knock down a through ball and the referee says to play on.
You don’t play on! You don’t play advantage to that. You give him a red card and be done with it.
That might have been the most incredible display of high speed ball control I’ve ever seen in my life. WOW Messi, WOW
Pilsen’s challenges are getting very, very aggressive. That was a third penalty not given to Messi.
Pilsen has all 11 players within 10 yards of their 18 and defending like their life depends on it. It is going to take something long distance or magical now from Barcelona to score.
The Blues are on fire. Torres looks in top form. They are doing whatever they want and are running a clinic on Genk. Could be 5-0 had the ref given Cole a penalty on a reckless challenge.
Come on Pilsen! Do your lovely little town proud and kill mighty Barcelona.
The stadium is under construction right now.
I freely admit to not understanding the French, but why are the best sections along the touchline completely empty? Are the stands in dangerous condition? Did some people do something naughty in front of the cameras leading to a closing of all the stands on that side of the field?
Andre Santos and Song have been pretty poor. Plenty of giveaways in their own half.
Those damn Blues are running Riot on Genk. Torres with the brace
Pulsating pace to Arsenal v OM. Both defenses under strain.
VP is lucky this official is feeling pity today, that’s two clear cut penalties on Messi not given.
Ref has missed two penalties in the Arsenal-Marseille game. One for each side though
Come on Barcelona, that’s just not fair hahah… what a ridiculous golazo.