BERLIN, March 2: CSKA Moscow and Marseille will have one thing In common when they meet on

Wednesday in the European Cup. Neither knows what to expect of the Russians, reports Reuter.

If Marseille are in the dark about their opponents, CSKA have 111 tic idea about themselves after squad changes, chaotic preparation and no chance of a warm- up game.

The Russians chose to take on the French champions In Berlin because of wintry conditions in Moscow but bad weather caused a postponement of a weekend friendly

liked with Tennis Borussia and forced them to do their training in a handball hall.

"We would have done better lo stay at home,' the club's manager Viktor Murasko grumbled.

The enigmatic CSKA side surprisingly dismissed European champions Barcelona In the second round of the competition but. after losing both their games so far in Group A of the semifinals, have virtually no chance of reaching the final.

Marseille, by contrast, have every hope of winning the group after taking three pointe but Belgian trainer Raymond Gocthala has insisted his team must win both matches with CSKA. The return is in Marseille on March 17.

Heating them twice would be the best way of sparing ourselves any nasty surprises,' he said. "Because after that we re at home to Glasgow Rangers and I have to admit that the Scots worry me."

Goclhals had a blow when Basile Boll pulled out with a knee Injury. Since switching the big defender to sweeper earlier this year, Marseille had successfully shored up a defence which was shipping far too many goals.

But experienced international Bernard Casonl Is back, after missing two matches with a broken thumb, to take his place.

German striker Rudi Voc-llcr is doubtful after badly bruising ribs In last week s 1-0 defeat to Monaco. The pain's eased,' he said after flying Into Berlin on Monday. TH try lo be fit for Wednesday but the chances are not particularly good.'

Goethals had hoped to see CSKA tn action in Berlin but wasted his trip when the match was Called off and has had to be content with studying old video cassettes of them in action.

'I don't have any Idea of their form." he said. "I know they have four or five new players but I don't know much about them."

CSKA were not giving away too many clues, handing Marseille a list of 46 players from which they will choose their side.

Trainer Gennadi Kostilcv said his team had played Just one match this year, an indoor game in the Russian Cup against a second division side.

"It was hardly a good lest before playing Marseille,' he said. "But unfortunately we don't have the means to go lo Spain or Italy to prepare."

"Marseille arc one of the best teams in Europe and it would be a real exploit to beat them. We don't have much chance of making the final ourselves but we can cause a few problems lo the others."

CSKA have lost international keeper Dmitri Kharin, who was transferred to English club Chelsea.

PROBABLE TEAMS:

CSKA: Plototnikov. Gushin, Bystrov, Malyukov, Kololovkin, Kolesnikov, Bushmanov. Antonovitch. Grishin. Mashkarin, Maatchuk, Mtnko, Sergeyev, Dubnlk, Fayzullin.

MARSEILLE: Fabien

Barthez: Jocelyn Angioma, Marcel Desailly, Bernard Casoni, Eric Di Mcco; Didier Deschamps, Franck Sauzee, Jean-Jacques Eydelle, Abed I Pelt; Alen Bokak^ Rudi Voeller or Igor Dobrovolski.