The Coupe de France has claimed another victim, and unfortunately for Olympique de Marseille, it’s a familiar story. Eliminated in the quarterfinal stage by Toulouse on Wednesday evening at the Vélodrome (2-2, 3-4 on penalties), the club from the south of France sees its hopes for a first trophy since the 2011-2012 season dashed once again. The defeat underscores a troubling pattern for l’OM: a consistent inability to close out matches when they reach the penalty shootout stage.
This latest loss to Toulouse wasn’t an isolated incident. Marseille has now lost four consecutive Coupe de France matches decided by penalty kicks. Prior to Wednesday’s heartbreaking defeat, Annecy eliminated them in 2023 at the same Vélodrome stadium (2-2, 6-7 on penalties), followed by Rennes in 2024 (1-1, 9-8 on penalties), and Lille in 2025 (1-1, 3-4 on penalties), likewise on their home turf. The pattern is becoming alarmingly consistent for the club and its supporters.
Balerdi and the Weight of Missed Opportunities
The statistics paint a grim picture of Marseille’s struggles in these high-pressure situations. Adding to the frustration is the recurring theme of individual players faltering from the spot. Leonardo Balerdi, the Argentinian defender, has become a focal point of this unfortunate trend. He missed his penalty attempt on Wednesday, having previously failed to convert against Annecy three years prior. The weight of those missed opportunities clearly hangs heavy.
However, Marseille’s penalty woes extend beyond the Coupe de France. Across all competitions, l’OM has only won one of their last seven penalty shootouts. Their last success came in the quarterfinal return leg of the Europa League against Benfica on April 18, 2024, a 4-3 victory after a 1-0 win (1-0, 4-3 on penalties). Since that hard-fought win, Marseille has stumbled in three subsequent shootouts, including a loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Trophée des Champions on January 8th (2-2, 4-1 on penalties) in Kuwait. Fans will also recall the painful elimination against Panathinaikos in the third qualifying round of the Champions League on August 16, 2023 (2-1, 3-5 on penalties), a result that derailed their Champions League ambitions for the season.
A Historic Low for Beye
The defeat also marks a somber milestone for Marseille’s fresh manager, Habib Beye. Having taken the helm just three matches ago, Beye has unfortunately entered the record books in an undesirable way. He became the first manager to be eliminated from the Coupe de France with two different teams in the same season. Before the loss to Toulouse, Beye, while managing Stade Rennais, was also eliminated from the competition… by Olympique de Marseille. A cruel twist of fate for the recently appointed coach.
The match itself was a tense affair. Marseille took an early lead through a penalty converted by Mason Greenwood in the 2nd minute. However, Toulouse responded with an equalizer in the 13th minute, leveling the score at 1-1. Despite some promising attacking play from Marseille in the first half, they were unable to discover a breakthrough. The second half saw Toulouse push for a winner, with Rulli, Marseille’s goalkeeper, making a crucial save to deny Emersonn. The match went to penalties, where Toulouse proved to be the more composed side, securing a 4-3 victory.
The penalty shootout itself was a nerve-wracking affair. While details of the penalty takers and order are not readily available, the result speaks for itself: another painful exit for Marseille. The defeat leaves a bitter taste for the club’s supporters, who had hoped to see their team lift a trophy this season. It also raises questions about the team’s mental fortitude and ability to perform under pressure in crucial moments.
For Toulouse, the victory represents a significant step forward in their Coupe de France campaign. They will now advance to the semi-finals, where they will face a challenging opponent. The win also provides a boost to their confidence as they continue to compete on multiple fronts this season.
Marseille, meanwhile, will demand to regroup and refocus their efforts on Ligue 1. They currently sit in a mid-table position and will be looking to climb the standings in the remaining months of the season. The Coupe de France defeat will undoubtedly serve as a painful reminder of their shortcomings, but it also presents an opportunity for growth and improvement.
The question now is whether Marseille can overcome this mental block and finally break their penalty shootout curse. Until they do, the specter of past failures will continue to haunt them in these high-stakes moments. For now, Toulouse celebrates, while Marseille is left to reflect on another missed opportunity.
Next up for Olympique de Marseille is a Ligue 1 clash against [Opponent and Date to be confirmed]. The team will be looking to bounce back from this disappointing defeat and regain momentum in the league. Fans can follow the latest updates and team news on the official Olympique de Marseille website.
