Juric and De Zerbi explain surprising Marseille vs. Atalanta tactical changes

Ivan Juric and Roberto De Zerbi explain their surprising tactical choices as Olympique Marseille and Atalanta face off with unusual formations in the Champions League.

It kicks off at the Stade Velodrome at 20.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Inter-Kairat Almaty on the Liveblog.

In the Champions League, they lost 4-0 to PSG and beat Club Brugge 2-1, but wasted so many scoring opportunities in a disappointing 0-0 against Slavia Prague.

Juric had been expected to use Mario Pasalic with Charles De Ketelaere and Ademola Lookman upfront, but he has instead gone for a more attacking formation with Nikola Krstovic as a centre-forward.

“There are seven games in 20 days, I think at this moment it is the best starting XI,” Juric told Sky Sport Italia.

Was it also chosen because Olympique Marseille have a tendency to leak goals with their switching between three and four at the back?

“Marseille tended to open up with three at the back, so we prepared based on what I believe they will do.”

Marco Brescianini joined Giorgio Scalvini on the treatment table, while Marten de Roon, Sead Kolasinac and Daniel Maldini are in the squad despite carrying muscular problems.

De Zerbi would seem to have shifted to a 3-4-3 formation with Mason Greenwood, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Igor Paixao upfront, but most notably a three-man defence.

L’Equipe wrote this week that the Italian coach was a constant set of surprises, but he did not agree.

“L’Equipe wrote something inexact. We have a lot of injuries right now, so like all coaches I try to find the right formation based on the characteristics and qualities of my players. That is all,” De Zerbi told Sky Sport Italia.

Former Italy international Emerson Palmieri is suspended, with an injury list that includes Geoffrey Kondogbia, ex-Sassuolo midfielder Hamed Traore, former Juventus man Timothy Weah, Leonardo Balerdi, Facundo Medina and Amine Gouiri.

Meanwhile, the Italian tactician is well aware this match will be getting more attention than his usual Ligue 1 fixtures.

“My whole family and my friends follow my progress, but today more than ever they are keeping an eye on my game.”