Rodriguez grabbed the first goal after 76 minutes just when it looked as though a well-organised rearguard action from the Turkish club was about to bear fruit in this Group A fixture.

Cisse then sealed the win for Albert Emon's men as the game drifted into stoppage time.

Marseille had the lion's share of the chances in the first half but found it hard to break down a well-organised Besiktas defence.

Boudewijn Zenden and Samir Nasri both missed the target with early efforts for Marseille, who in 1993 became the only French team ever to win Europe's top club prize.

Besiktas were playing a defensive game in the early stages but nearly paid for their cautious approach.

Mamadou Niang fired in a free-kick which ricocheted into the path of Cisse whose shot was blocked by Hakan Arikan.

Laurent Bonnart was wayward with a shot from distance and then Niang headed over after the bar in another promising Marseille raid.

Besiktas were hit by a blow when their Brazilian midfielder Ricardinho had to leave the field just before the break.

There was still time for Taye Taiwo to fire wide before the break in a half dominated by the French club.

After the interval, it was again Marseille who made the early running against a Turkish team that seemed determined to defend in depth.

Arikan was called into action to deal with a dangerous cross-cum-shot from Karim Ziani as Marseille looked to make their pressure count.

But the team that is yet to win a Ligue 1 match at the Stade Velodrome this season was continually frustrated in their efforts to get the goal their early pressure deserved.

Cisse then missed a chance to score after Arikan had failed to deal with a Lorik Cana shot but his blushes were spared as an offside flag would have ruled it out anyway.

The lively Niang missed again as Marseille continued to dictate the game.

Again Niang went close as he failed to connect with a centre from Taiwo and the Besiktas goal continued to lead a charmed life.

However, the visitors from Istanbul were now looking for openings on the break and Jacques Faty was fortunate to avoid a second booking for what looked a cautionable offence on Rodrigo Tello.

The frustration was beginning to show for Marseille but just as the Velodrome faithful must have started fearing the worst they scored.

The goal came through Rodriguez who was well positioned to score when a Nasri corner fell into his path via the woodwork.

Having made the breakthrough, Marseille contented themselves with keeping possession against a Besiktas team whose ambitions had looked limited to defence.

But Serdar Ozkan might have grabbed an unlikely easier for the Turks when he escaped the marking of the Marseille defence but failed to find the target.

Cisse supplied the coup de grace with a late second and Marseille duly savoured the win.