A superb reaction from Olympique de Marseille (OM): under pressure in Ligue 1 and weakened by their clear defeat (0-3) on Wednesday against Liverpool in the Champions League, the Phocéens very logically beat Lens (3-1), Saturday January 24, at the Stade-Vélodrome, putting an end to the superb series of the Sang et Or, who are no longer leaders.
With eight points behind their opponents of the day at kick-off, the Marseillais could lose everything during this Ligue 1 shock. But here they are, on the contrary, pumped up and back five lengths behind Lensois, who cede first place in the ranking to Paris Saint-Germain. The Sang et Or presented themselves at the Vélodrome with an impressive series of ten victories, including eight in the championship. But they fell, and quite high, because OM were clearly superior throughout the match.
Having emerged frustrated and disappointed from their defeat on Wednesday against Liverpool, a meeting during which they had seemed terribly powerless, the Marseillais this time succeeded in what they had tried in vain against the Reds: to increase the intensity, play quickly and vertically and ignite a stadium which, even deprived of a corner (suspended for pyrotechnics), was just waiting for that.
Roberto De Zerbi’s team notably produced a dream first quarter of an hour, supported by a unique diamond midfielder, which made room for two recruits – Quinten Timber and Ethan Nwaneri –, while leaving Mason Greenwood on the bench. From the 3e minute, the Marseillais opened the scoring thanks to a goal from Amine Gouiri (1-0).
Nwaneri’s perfect debut
Ten minutes later, the young Nwaneri (18 years old) stood out with a high-class action: starting from his own half, the striker on loan from Arsenal concluded his long ride with a lethal hook on Malang Sarr and a strike from the left short net, almost smoothly (2-0, 13e).
Lens still came to its senses and began to look, if not like a championship leader, at least like a top-of-the-table team. But the Marseillais left few opportunities for the Sang et Or, except for an action by Odsonne Edouard (28e) or on some initiatives from Florian Thauvin, discreet for his reunion with the Vélodrome.
Marseille’s domination continued after the break. At the hour mark, Roberto De Zerbi brought on Mason Greenwood, then Benjamin Pavard and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Superiorly equipped in attack, OM once again found the fault in the 75e minute with a Paixao-Gouiri-Greenwood movement which shifted Timothy Weah to the right wing, decisive passer for Gouiri’s double (3-0).
At the end of the match, a carelessness from young Darryl Bakola allowed Rayan Fofana to reduce the score (3-1, 85e), which seemed to annoy De Zerbi, who would like to see his team better protect Geronimo Rulli’s goal.
OM now have an appointment in Bruges, Wednesday January 28, where they will have to qualify for the play-offs of the Champions League, a competition that the Lensois still have every right to dream of: they are second in the championship and, on Friday, they will host Le Havre to try to launch a new series of victories.
