Olympique de Marseille surprised Lens from the start, this Sunday at the Vélodrome. Thanks to a goal in the first minute from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Jean-Louis Gasset’s team quickly moved towards success. The Artois, long ineffective, ended up reacting, before cracking at the end of the match (2-1).
It took Aubameyang precisely 55 seconds to deceive Brice Samba, the Lens goalkeeper. Receiving a cross from Iliman Ndiaye, and thanks to a missed intervention from Massadio Haïdara, he took the right line at the far post and scored his 14th goal this season in Ligue 1 (1st, 1-0) .
However, RC Lens reacted after this goal conceded very early in the match. Franck Haise’s players did not deviate from their principles, namely taking risks and evolving at a high level. The biggest opportunity to equalize came in the 38th minute for Lensois. Kevin Danso first headed a cross from Nampalys Mendy, repelled with a magnificent tap by Pau Lopez. The ball rebounded to Florian Sotoca, whose header this time failed to hit the post.
The second period was similar to the first. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang always managed to create danger thanks to his countless calls, but OM created relatively few chances. Lens, dominant, crossed a lot, without managing to find the fault.
Until the 77th minute and a saving helmet from Wesley Saïd. Having entered a quarter of an hour earlier, the Lensois striker uncrossed his head perfectly to deceive Pau Lopez, served in the area by Massadio Haïdara (1-1). A deserved equalizer.
However, OM had not said their last word, and, served by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, still decisive, Pape Gueye set the Vélodrome on fire. After recovering the ball near the Lens area, he leaned on the Gabonese, before following up with a cross shot from the left (85th, 2-1).
Wesley Saïd regretted Lens’ awkwardness after the match, speaking to Prime Video: “We’re shooting ourselves in the foot. The two goals we conceded came from mistakes. We’re paying for it, it’s a real shame. We were pretty good. Everything is still possible, we will have to give ourselves in the last matches. »
Thanks to this success, Olympique de Marseille, seventh, moves closer to Lens, sixth with two points ahead. The Artois place is currently qualifying for the Europa Conference League, but could be for the Europa League in the event of PSG’s victory in the Coupe de France. After eighth-placed Lyon’s victory against Monaco this Sunday, the race for Europe is in full swing.
Satisfaction for Iliman Ndiaye: “The whole team gives their all for this club. I think we could see it. It’s the perfect preparation for Thursday (Europa League semi-final first leg against Atalanta), and what’s more, we’re still in the race for Europe. »
