Marseille did not start the year too well against low-flying Nantes. It lost 0-2 at home. L’OM escaped when the VAR disallowed Youssef El Arabi’s opening goal, but in the 26th minute Arthur Vermeeren made it extra difficult for his teammates when he received a red card for a tackle on goalkeeper Anthony Lopes, who screamed. Shortly afterwards Fabien Centonze scored 0-1.
According to L’Equipe, Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi called a lack of a healthy dose of aggressiveness one of Vermeeren’s working points, who received further praise from the Italian coach. Was this in our compatriot’s mind when he approached the ball a little too enthusiastically and blindly? Vermeeren missed the mark and with his tackle took Lopes into serious scissors.
In the second half, Bilal Nadir went one better by receiving two yellow cards in three minutes. Marseille now had nine men. In the final minutes, Pavard scored a penalty and Rémy Cabella (ex-Marseille) converted it.
The defeat leaves Marseille third with 32 points, eight less than leader Lens.
