Wanderers protected their long-standing unbeaten home record against the former European Cup winners and it's now 16 matches without defeat for Sam Allardyce's side at Fortress Reebok
But they go into next Thursday's second leg with a possible place in the last 16 hanging in the balance.
On the plus side Wanderers didn't concede an away goal. And having scored on their travels in Turkey, Bulgaria and Portugal, they will fancy their chances of doing so at Stade Velodrome.
Just under 20,000 watched Bolton's latest European adventure, including Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, rumoured to be running the rule over former England Under-21 international Kevin Nolan.
Nolan has so often proved the talisman for the Lancastrians but even he couldn't find a breakthrough.
Indeed, Bolton's best chance came in stoppage-time. Ricardo Gardner's cross into the penalty area picked out Stelios but the Greek midfielder placed his header into the side rather than the back of the net.
Stelios should have scored and he and his team-mates may regret the miss.
Wanderers though felt they should have had at least two penalties, notably in the first half when Frederic Dehu appeared to handle a cross from Jay-Jay Okocha.
Kevin Davies, no shrinking violet, received some tough treatment from the French defenders and he too felt a spot-kick should have been awarded.
Instead Portuguese official Olegario Benquerenca remained impervious to all the claims. He certainly couldn't be accused of being a homer.
Stelios too believed he'd been brought down in the second half but the Portuguese official remained oblivious to the appeals.
Allardyce was clearly annoyed by the weak officiating and will be even more livid if it ultimately costs Bolton further progress.
Former Old Trafford goalkeeper Fabian Barthez skippered the away side. But apart from a couple of efforts, notably an early shot by Okocha, he remained largely untroubled.
And his handling, often suspect during his time with the Red Devils, was reasonably re-assuring to his defenders.
Marseille were clearly happy with the draw. They do possess though in Mamadou Niang a potential tiebreaker next week.
Niang's pace was always a threat and it needed a fine save from Jussi Jaaskelainen after 50 minutes to halt the marauding frontman.
But Marseille were content to soak up the pressure and will believe they have a collective foot in the next round.