Deschamps wary of Real task

Group C in the balance as sides prepare for final day showdown

Last updated: 25th November 2009  

Deschamps wary of Real task

Deschamps: Qualification on the line

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Marseille boss Didier Deschamps admits his side could face an enormous challenge against Real Madrid in their final UEFA Champions League Group C match.

The French outfit gained a creditable 1-1 draw with Milan in the San Siro on Wednesday night, but could have stolen all three points after a series of second-half misses.

The result means no team in the group have secured their progression to the second round heading into the final fixtures.

Milan will guarantee their place should they win at rock-bottom FC Zurich in their final game, while such a result would mean Marseille require a four-goal margin win over Real Madrid in the group's other final fixture.

However, a slip-up by Milan would mean a win for Marseille by any score would take both them and Madrid through, but Deschamps is not overly optimistic.

"The result is not so good, sure a draw in Milan means something but we've hit the post and the bar," said Deschamps, whose side lost 3-0 in Madrid in September.

"We've got to dream and hope but winning 4-0 against Madrid is not a small thing."

Milan coach Leonardo made just one change during the match, despite his side facing spells of pressure from the French side as Milan yet again failed to win at home in this season's competition.

After Ignazio Abate came on to replace the injured Massimo Oddo in the first half, Leonardo admits his options on the bench were limited.

"Unfortunately we don't have all the players available. We had a balance and changes could have caused problems," said the Brazilian coach.

"In Zurich we've got to be very concentrated on our game. The important thing is that it depends on us, a good result and we qualify."

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