Rodriguez, Cisse hand Marseille 2-0 win
Second-half goals by Julien Rodriguez and Djibril Cisse gave Olympique Marseille a 2-0 win over Besiktas in their Champions League Group A opener on Tuesday.
Second-half goals by Julien Rodriguez and Djibril Cisse gave Olympique Marseille a 2-0 win over Besiktas in their Champions League Group A opener on Tuesday.
Centre back Rodriguez poked the ball home in the 76th minute after a Samir Nasri corner kick hit the far post and France striker Cisse wrapped up the win in injury time to earn the Ligue 1 side their first home victory of the season.
Albert Emon's side dominated throughout and were barely bothered by a feeble Besiktas side.
Marseille, who won the Champions League in 1993, lead their group after five-times champions Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw at Porto.
"We're feeling better. The Champions League is such an important competition," Emon told reporters.
"We put our Ligue 1 problems behind us. This game is a boost for our confidence. The players have been strong from the first to the last minute."
Marseille started brightly, with Senegal striker Mamadou Niang a permanent threat to the Besiktas defence, but proved too clumsy in front of goal.
Cisse had the clearest chance in the 11th minute but his attempt was blocked by Hakan Arikan.
The Besiktas goalkeeper pulled a superb save seven minutes into the second half when he tipped a Karim Ziani shot over his bar.
Marseille next travel to Anfield, where no French club has won, while Besiktas host Porto.
(Writing by Julien Pretot in Paris)