Robert Pires magnificent first-half strike dented Chelseas Champions League hopes as Marseille took all three points from their Group D clash in France.

The defeat, only Chelseas second in the competition this season, will be a blow and Feyenoords shock victory against Lazio means that the Blues trip to Holland in a fortnight's time takes on added significance as both teams look to progress to the knock-out stages.

Chelsea welcomed Frank Leboeuf and Dennis Wise following their domestic suspension although there was no place for full-back Celestine Babayaro after he finally returned from his extended African holiday.

Marseille, meanwhile were paying heavily for their indiscipline in their last group match. Former Blackburn timebomb Sebastien Perez and Yannick Fischer were suspended having been sent off against Feyenoord. Goalkeeper Stephane Porato was injured, so Stephane Trevisan wriggled into his gloves.

Starting at a ferocious rate, both teams managed to miss an open goal in the opening ten minutes. Cyrille Pouget failed to connect properly with a wonderful Ibrahima Bakayoko cross with just Ed de Goey to beat with just two minutes on the clock.

Gianfranco Zola should also have done better after strike partner Tore Andre Flo headed back across goal, yet he mishit his volley from just six yards.

Chelsea had the lion's share of possession early on, yet some pussycat defending let Pires take a shock lead. Striding down the right, there seemed no danger, yet de Goey let the wingers near-post effort sneak past him off both posts.

The goal lifted Marseille, whose confidence has steadily deteriorated since their impressive victory over Manchester United in October. Despite having a new manager after Rolland Courbis dismissal, their results have not improved and they reached their lowest point after crashing out of the French Cup to Second Division side Gueugnon.

However, buoyed by the crowd, they looked like the form team and certainly created the better chances. Only a magnificent block by young full-back Jon Harley prevented Pires doubling his tally as he connected with a Pouget cross.

Desailly, who won the European Cup with Marseille in 1993, almost continued his recent goalscoring form of the Premiership when he moved up-field for a free-kick, but neither he, nor Flo could connect with Zolas curling set-piece and the ball bounced agonising past the post.

Chelsea needed some inspiration, yet it could not come from manager Gianluca Vialli. He was stranded in the stands with a mobile phone glued to his ear as a punishment for his dismissal in the goalless draw with Lazio in December.

Marseilles defence may have been decimated by injury and suspension, yet, marshalled by youngster Peter Luccin, they appeared to have the measure of the experienced Chelsea forward line. The cup-tied George Weah was certainly missed. The fact that the Blues were caught offside ten times indicates a failure to get to grips with the match.

The pace and power in the French teams attack was causing all sorts of problems on the counter-attack as Chelsea pushed forwards looking for an equaliser. With 10 minutes remaining, Stephane Dalmat almost made the game safe as his shot from a tight angle flashed across goal following a typically direct run.

Substitute Chris Sutton almost grabbed a dramatic leveller with three minutes remaining as he raced onto Harleys immaculate throughball, only to see his first-time effort pushed away by Trevisan.

Indeed, Chelsea's only real second-half chances all came at the death. Gustavo Poyet's magnificent header seemed certain to equalise, yet Trevisan blocked the Uruguayans effort from point-blank range.

Marseille: Trevisan, Cyprien, Luccin, Abardonado, Blondeau, Dalmat, Brando, Pires, Leroy, Pouget (De La Pena 72), Bakayoko (Moses 90).
Subs Not Used: Carasso, Issa, Martin, Keita, Martini.
Goals: Pires 16.

Chelsea: De Goey, Harley, Desailly, Leboeuf, Ferrer (Morris 81), Poyet, Deschamps (Di Matteo 62), Wise, Petrescu, Flo (Sutton 81), Zola.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Ambrosetti, Lambourde, Thome.