Two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and one from Raul Albiol helped Real Madrid secure top spot in Group C, as Marseille bowed out of the Champions League.
Marseille included Stephane Mbia in the squad, but he only made the bench, as did ex-Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes. Manuel Pellegrini, meanwhile, handed Rafael van der Vaart another start, leaving Raul and Karim Benzema on the bench.
The hosts needed a win to stand any chance of progressing, so the last thing they wanted was to concede early. Unfortunately for them, on five minutes, Ronaldo stood over a free-kick from 30 yards out, and promptly dispatched a vicious, unstoppable shot, that flew into the right hand corner, leaving Steve Mandanda with no chance, despite him getting his fingertips to it.
It was a cruel blow for Marseille, who needed a quick response to stand any chance. That is exactly what they got on 11 minutes, when Lucho Gonzalez slotted in the rebound, after Albiol had cleared Brandao's header off the line, following a cross from Taye Taiwo.
Marseille were buoyed by the equaliser, and they were looking dangerous, as Brandao had a goal correctly ruled out for offside. They were leaving some gaps at the back, but without much possession, Madrid were playing on the counter. Ronaldo almost scored his second just before the half-hour, but his header hit the post. Gonzalo Higuain pounced on the rebound, only to see Mandanda flap his effort away, before Sergio Ramos' follow-up was deflected over. It was a lucky escape for the hosts, who received further good news with Zurich scoring against Milan.
Both sides had good chances in the final five minutes of the half, with Albiol putting a perfect tackle in on Brandao when he was through on goal, before Ronaldo played a brilliant back-heel for Marcelo, who broke past two defenders before shanking his shot. That proved to be the final action of the first half, with all to play for in the second period.
Marseille had the first chance of the second half, when Brandao was through on goal again having been released by Mamadou Niang, but Iker Casillas came out quickly to smother the ball. Real Madrid then had their say, with Marcelo once again blazing over, this time after Mandanda had parried Van der Vaart's effort from range.
The Brazilian was getting forward with intent, and was thwarted by the keeper yet again on the hour mark, having been set up by Higuain. A goal looked imminent, and it was duly provided on the hour mark, when Gabriel Heinze could only half-clear Van der Vaart's corner, allowing Albiol to smash a half-volley in to the left corner. It as a double blow for Marseille, as news of an equaliser for Milan filtered through almost simultaneously.
Marseille almost responded immediately once more, but Brandao's header from Benoit Cheyrou's corner was deflected on to the roof of the net. From the resulting corner, a virtual instant replay of the previous move occurred, except with Souleymane Diawara's header being deflected by Ramos.
The hosts had clearly not given up, and they were rewarded for their persistence on 66 minutes, when Casillas brought Niang down in the box, after Lucho had played him through over the defence. However, the celebrations around the Velodrome were too soon, as Lucho stepped up to take the penalty, only to smash it against the bar.
That seemed to knock the stuffing out of the hosts, as Albiol came close once more, dragging his shot wide from another corner. It was no surprise when Madrid got their third on 80 minutes, Ronaldo slotting into an empty net after Mandanda made a hash of a long ball from Lassana Diarra.
The match was now over as a contest, and Benzema should have added a fourth, only to pull his shot from the edge of the box wide, after a neat exchange of passes with Ronaldo.
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