Madrid - Spanish giants Atletico Madrid announced on Monday that they would travel to Marseille, for Tuesday's Champions League clash against Olympique just hours ahead of the kickoff.

Like most European teams, Atletico normally travel the day before the game, in order to get used to the city, the stadium and the weather.

This time, however, Atletico have decided to fly later because of serious security concerns.

Atletico have received several threats from Marseille "ultras", because of the sentence handed out on Friday by a Madrid court to OM fan Santos Mirasierra.

Mirasierra was given a three-and-a-half year prison for "disobedience towards authority" during serious incidents in the Estadio Vicente Calderon when Atletico beat Marseille 2-1 at home on October 1.

Marseille fans have started a vociferous campaign to have Mirasierra pardoned, or at least to serve his sentence in a French prison. One obstacle is that he has both French and Spanish nationality and has been sentenced as a Spanish rather than a French citizen.

The Spanish police baton-charged the Marseille "ultras" and several visiting fans were injured during the match.

UEFA then raised eyebrows by punishing Atletico - the final sanction being having to play one home game (2-1 against PSV Eindhoven two weeks ago) behind closed doors in the Calderon.

Atletico are worried by the threats received. Club president Enrique Cerezo has advised Atletico fans not to attend the match, and has expressed his hope for "a calm game, without incidents."

On Sunday, Marseille coach Eric Gerets said that "I am afraid that the Atletico game will go wrong. If there are incidents, the club will pay a heavy price. It will be difficult for everyone to keep calm."

In order to finish top of Group D, Atletico need to obtain the same result in Marseille as Liverpool away to PSV Eindhoven.

Atletico and Liverpool are level on 11 points and drew their two matches 1-1. Marseille and PSV have three points apiece, and need to win in order to snatch their place and a UEFA Cup berth.

Atletico coach Javier Aguirre is likely to make several changes to the team which won 5-2 away to Sporting Gijon on Saturday.

French veteran Gregory Coupet could take over in goal from Leo Franco, Spanish international defenders Pablo Ibanez and Antonio Lopez could come in for John Heitinga and Tomas Ujfalusi.

Youngster Nacho Camacho could come in to the midfield for veteran Maniche, whilst in attack Florent Sinama Pongolle will stand in for either Diego Forlan or Sergio Aguero. (dpa)