A goal deep in injury time by Ghanaian star Andre Ayew gave Marseille a 1-0 win over 2010 winners Inter in their Champions League last 16 first leg and cast further doubt over Claudio Ranieri’s future last night.
There was also a late goal in the night’s other tie as substitute Valentin Stocker’s 86th minute effort gave unheralded Swiss side Basel a shock 1-0 home win over German giants Bayern Munich.
Basel had the better of the opening 20 minutes after Bayern’s French star Franck Ribery had given them a wake-up call when he broke the offside trap but his shot was turned round the post by the Swiss side’s goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Basel, though, stormed back after that let-off and twice went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock in a matter of minutes.
First Aleksandar Dragovic’s header looked to be heading for the back of the net only for German number one Manuel Neuer to pull off a miraculous stop which still saw the ball bounce along the line but it was hacked clear.
It was the turn of veteran former Swiss international striker Alexander Frei to be left frustrated a minute later as he turned smartly inside the box but while his shot beat Neuer it cannoned off the bar.
Sommer was then called into action twice in the latter stages of the second-half saving smartly from impressive 19-year-old Austrian David Alaba and then Ribery.
Sommer pulled off a great save midway through the second-half as he tipped over the bar a fierce long range effort by Bayern’s experienced German fullback Phillipp Lahm.
However, the deadlock was broken as the match entered its closing stages after Jacques Zoua threaded a superb ball to the unmarked Stocker inside the box and he made no mistake sliding the ball between Neuer’s legs.
“It’s of course a very bitter defeat for us,” said Bayern’s goalkeeper Neuer.
“You can't even say it wasn't deserved, we didn't play well and didn’t take our chances. We have to deal with this internally now and fix the problems quickly.
“There were too many mistakes and we have to cut them out.”
Marseille and Inter enjoyed a quieter first-half, though Marseille ‘keeper Steve Mandanda did have to tip over a close range Diego Forlan effort after 10 minutes.
The Marseille goalkeeper also had to get down to block a low effort from Zarate, while Cambiasso saw a shot deflected into Mandanda’s grasp shortly before the interval.
Goals looked even less likely from the visitors in the second-half as Ranieri sent on Yuto Nagatomo for Maicon at half-time – the substitute like his fellow outfield players on the pitch having failed to find the net this year.
However, they should have taken the lead but Dejan Stankovic failed to get a good touch on the ball from only a few yards out and Mandanda was able to gather cleanly.
They were left to rue that miss as me in the third minute of injury-time Valbuena’s set-piece fell at the near post, Andre Ayew got across his man to head home, ending Julio Cesar’s resistance and nudging Ranieri another step closer to the trapdoor.
Last 16, 1st legs
Played yesterday
Marseille 1
A. Ayew 90;
Inter 0
Basel 1
Stocker 86;
B. Munich 0
Second legs: March 13.
Played Tuesday
CSKA vs Real Madrid - 1-1
Napoli vs Chelsea - 3-1
Second legs: March 14.
Played last week
B. Leverkusen vs Barcelona - 1-3
Lyon vs Apoel Nicosia - 1-0
Second legs: March 7.
Zenit SP vs Benfica - 3-2
Milan vs Arsenal - 4-0
Second legs: March 6.