At the heart of a delicate series with only one victory in its last eight matches, Olympique de Marseille wanted to advance to the second against AEK Athens and secure their first victory in this Europa League group stage. Gennaro Gattuso lines up an almost typical team with Vitinha in place of Aubameyang and Ruben Blanco who replaces Paul Lopez, the usual starting goalkeeper, after his injury in Nice on Saturday. Marseille’s intentions were good from the start, like Iliman Ndiaye alone at the penalty point after a delivery from a Greek defender in the middle. However, the Senegalese international is not sharp enough to make the difference (4th).
Vitinha finds the net
Recruited this summer in Sheffield, Ndiaye will once again stand out in the opposing area. After a good hook, he stumbles on the opposing goalkeeper and is unable to improve his finishing, he who has only scored one goal since his arrival this summer (20th). OM put themselves in danger a few moments later with a rough tackle from Balerdi on Zuber, at the entrance to the Olympian area. The Greeks demand a penalty, but we stay with a free kick which does nothing for AEK (25th).
Dominant in this first period, Olympique de Marseille will succeed in opening the score with a beautiful collective movement: shifted to the right side in depth, Clauss instantly crosses for Vitinha, who wins his duel and shakes the nets (1-0, 27th ). The Portuguese scores his first goal since August 18. AEK tries to react on a set piece after a foul by Clauss, punished with a yellow card. But Moukoudi’s header from this free kick goes over Blanco’s goal.
After this first goal, OM relaxed their intensity and almost regretted it. In added time, after a quickly played free kick, Zuber is found on the left side and deceives the Marseille goalkeeper. But, after using the video, the Greeks’ achievement was canceled (45th). Gattuso’s men return to the locker room with a short advantage, and it will undoubtedly be necessary to put more ingredients in to maintain it.
AEK generous, OM benefits
The trend at the end of the first period was confirmed by a delicate start, sanctioned by the Greek equalizer. On a cross from the left, Pineda is found in the middle but misses his recovery. The Mexican still has time to shoot again and, this time, it hits the mark (1-1, 54th).
But, in this unbridled match, the two teams give each other gifts. AEK goalkeeper Stankovic is too easy on a control and returns the ball to Vitinha. The Athenian goalkeeper surrounds the OM attacker: penalty and red card! Amine Harit takes advantage of the offering to put his team back in front (2-1, 60th). At 11 against 10, OM will quickly take advantage of their numerical superiority after a new penalty awarded following an irregular charge from Amrabat. This time, it’s Veretout who is responsible for transforming to widen the gap (3-1, 68th).
The Greek team is stunned and can no longer react. OM even thought of driving the point home with a fourth goal scored by Ismaïla Sarr, but the Senegalese ultimately saw his goal refused for offside at the start of the action (83rd). With the victory acquired, Gattuso took the opportunity to rotate his squad, notably with the entries of Nadir and Meïté. Before hosting Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday, Marseille reassured itself this Thursday and took an interesting option for the rest of the Europa League. Next continental meeting in two weeks, with the return match in Athens.
