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Ligue 1 rivals eye UEFA Cup showdown

Both clubs face opposition from Ukraine in quarter-final, first leg matches.

Marseille, beaten finalists in 2004, head to Eastern Europe for the first leg against Shakhtar Donetsk in terrific form, the southern French side in contention to end Olympique Lyon's seven-year stranglehold on the Ligue 1 title.

"Hopefully both (Paris and Marseille) will qualify," Marseille coach Eric Gerets was quoted as saying by his club's website. "If so, tension will be even higher than when we meet in the league."

Marseille's Senegalese striker Mamadou Niang is back to his best after recovering from a broken toe but the French side will be without Brazilian striker Brandao for the tie.

City's away form has caused manager Mark Hughes plenty of concern. They have not won away in the Premier League since August but did win on the road during the UEFA Cup group stage at Hamburg's Bundesliga rivals Schalke in November.

Werder have proved inconsistent in the Bundesliga and have saved their best form for the UEFA Cup, having knocked out tournament favourites AC Milan in the last 32.