By TL
Published 6 hours ago, Updated 6 hours ago
Geoffrey Kondogbia in tops, the Ukrainians of Donetsk in flops AFP / NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP / NICOLAS TUCAT
TOPS/FLOPS – OM qualified this Thursday evening for the round of 16 after its success against Chakhtar (3-1). Discover the best and worst of this Europa League return play-off.
TOPS
Kondogbia into a father
Let’s change the disk. We could have cited the inevitable Aubameyang, top scorer in the Europa League this season and once again decisive. But this Thursday evening, another man in form deserves the spotlight. Geoffrey Kondogbia created his empire. The middle one. Reassuring on every ball shot, excellent at pressing, the former French international first stood out with a heavy left-footed shot (27th), repelled by the Ukrainian goalkeeper. He caused two fouls but experienced waste in his game with 12 missed passes (38/50) and 13 lost balls. Very active, he scored the last goal by perfectly adjusting his shot in an uncomfortable position at the end of the game.
The Marseille reaction
A click? Or a false victory? The future will tell. However, Marseille has gone through a real storm this season with poor results, the resignation of Gattuso and the temporary arrival of Gasset. The media outing of sports advisor Mehdi Benatia on his player Jonathan Clauss will not have helped either. But faced with their responsibility, the Marseille players achieved such an important success this evening. First, they continue their European adventure. But Aubameyang’s teammates are smiling again and above all, a system that they like (3-5-2). Although the system took 20 minutes to set up, everyone ultimately found their role in this success.
Sarr, what energy
His last goal dated October 8 during the 8th day of Ligue 1 against Le Havre. This Thursday evening, Ismaïla Sarr found the net against Shakhtar. Coming into play 10 minutes earlier in place of Moumbagna, the Senegalese was opportunistic on a long opening from Veretout. As a good surface fox, the former Watford player recovered the leather to push it deep and give his team an already decisive advantage. On several occasions, his speed and power challenged the Ukrainian defenders. His axial position perhaps made things easier, as he tended to fit in on one wing.
Read also Europa League: no “Gasset effect” but “an awareness”, thinks the new OM coach
FLOPS
Shakhtar will not have gone the distance
In the first leg, Shakhtar led the way. Constantly led, the Ukrainians knew how to react immediately, to their character. And this Thursday, they showed, in the space of 20 minutes, that the Marseillais had to be wary. But Aubameyang’s goal finally caused the team coached by Marino Pusic to lose their footing. Zubkov and Eguinaldo will no longer have been served and Rakytskiy and the entire defense will have suffered, committing numerous faults. Too bad for a team which had shown great things offensively and tactically in the two matches.
Clauss, confidence at half mast
His presence in the Marseille system is essential. Pushed towards the exit during the last winter transfer window, the French international went through a strange period. Turned on by his sports advisor, Mehdi Benatia, on two occasions and before the match against Brest in Ligue 1, Jonathan Clauss was at the heart of all the discussions. And this Thursday evening, the right side seemed lacking in confidence. On several occasions, he missed narrowly on poorly struck and not high enough crosses (3 successful crosses out of 15). It was especially him who made the mistake in his area on Chakhtar’s first goal (12th). Beaten in his duel by Eguinaldo, the former Lens player had no choice but to push him. Better in the second period, Clauss still lost 24 balls.
A forgotten penalty?
The match could have changed much earlier, at the end of the first period. While Aubameyang deflects a good ball with his head, Moumbagna is hampered and pushed by defender Rakytskiy before Harit misses his shot. The match referee wants to check the action but ultimately does not award a penalty. An accepted decision, certainly, but which is largely questionable. In slow motion, the Ukrainian defender is late, does not play the ball and concretely hinders the Marseille center forward. It remains to be seen whether the foul was committed just at the entrance to the area or in the area. And if the fault was committed outside, the video cannot be requested.
