A week after the derby of shame against Nice, whose outbursts had shocked the whole world and deeply marked the players, Olympique de Marseille badly needed it. A warm reunion with its Vélodrome, a warm but festive and friendly atmosphere, and above all a victory on the ground which would reassure after being heckled by the men of Christophe Galtier, authors of a brilliant start to the season. It is done this Saturday, with a convincing victory (3-1) for the band in Sampaoli at home against a much too shy Saint-Etienne, who will have especially suffered in the face of the energy deployed by OM.
Carried by a Vélodrome on fire – both figuratively and literally, judging by the pyrotechnic festival offered by the Ultras at the time of kickoff – the Marseillais returned to their match better. Despite an error by Luan Peres, which could have been expensive from the start if Bouanga had not missed his face-to-face with Mandanda, the Olympians logically opened the scoring.
Once again on a remote-controlled action by the strongmen of the start of the Marseille season: Payet for Ünder on a brilliant opening on the outside of the foot, then De La Fuente and finally Guendouzi, effective at the finish (1-0, 23rd). But the merger with the Vélodrome was short: 8 minutes later, Timothée Kolodziejczak equalized with a header from a corner (1-1, 31st). Despite great opportunities, including a post hit by Guendouzi (38th), the two teams returned to the locker room back to back.
Same pattern on the return from intermission: Marseille gets opportunities, keeps the foot on the ball, and Saint-Étienne bends back. Until they crack. Best player of the Olympian attack in his role of false nine, Dimitri Payet seeks the one-two with Ünder near the surface, the ball fails on Rongier who shifts Gerson, easy (2-1, 51st).
“Today, everything was together, the public responded present, we too, we gave pleasure to the supporters and we took some, smiled Dimitri Payet after the meeting at the microphone of Canal +. That’s what I like, to put the partner in the best possible conditions. I have a role of false nine where I take down to let others take the depth and serve them after. I have a lot of fun on the pitch, I’m happy! Under will however need nobody to send a delight of strike wound in the small net of Etienne Green and to make the break (3-1, 68th).
Three recruits, three goals: we are starting to get used to it, the newcomers of a Marseille transfer window which looks more and more like a clear round are decisive. New alerts signed Luis Enrique (70th), Ünder (81st) or Payet (83rd) at the very end of the match would have almost deserved to add a little more salt, while Pol Lirola, who came into play in the 85th minute, found the Velodrome after its final transfer to OM this week. Marseille can already be satisfied: after having cracked a fortnight ago against Bordeaux (2-2), OM materializes a very promising start to the season in the game by offering themselves a first deserved victory at home, ahead of an audience that could still have given voice until the end of the night.
“It’s the way of playing that we like, people left happy, concludes the coach Jorge Sampaoli at the microphone of Canal +. We are very respectful of this club and its traditions, it must become big again, it deserves it. “
