Olympique de Marseille fell 1-0 to Ligue 2 side Montpellier HSC in a closed-door friendly at the Stade Francis-Turcan in Martigues, with winger Nicolas Pays scoring the decisive goal in the 79th minute.
Martigues Friendly Brings No Relief for Marseille
Marseille hosted Montpellier on Saturday behind closed doors and without a television broadcast, testing a heavily rotated lineup shaped by international call-ups and squad injuries. While the fixture does not officially count toward Marseille's ongoing losing streak across Ligue 1 and European competition, it highlighted the struggles of a squad currently sitting 17th in the French top flight.
Montpellier capitalized on the disjointed nature of the match late in the second half. Daylam Meddah delivered the decisive pass to Nicolas Pays, whose 79th-minute strike broke the deadlock. According to regional coverage from La Provence, the decisive goal arrived just as Marseille had introduced several younger academy products, leaving a largely unproven defensive block on the pitch.
Genesio Evaluates Youth and Fringe Squad Members
In the absence of established internationals—including Amine Gouiri and Himad Abdelli, who missed out due to injuries sustained with the Algerian national team—Genesio used the afternoon to run a comprehensive assessment of his squad. Jeffrey de Lange started in goal behind a defensive line featuring Ulisses Garcia operating at right-back, alongside Bamo Meïté and 20-year-old central defender Alexi Koum. Midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi partnered with young prospect Nouhoum Kamissoko in a double pivot, while Angel Gomes anchored the attacking midfield behind Neal Maupay, Igor Paixao, and Keyliane Abdallah.
The tactical setup provided valuable minutes for players needing match fitness. Meïté returned to competitive action after spending the summer on loan at Lorient, while Nnadi tested his recovery following a knee injury sustained during the second week of the Ligue 1 season. During the second half, Genesio turned to his bench, introducing younger prospects such as Ugo Kadmiri, Jephthé Malanda, Adam El Boughlamy, and Hilan Hamzaoui to bolster an exhausted senior group affected by a quiet summer transfer window.
Montpellier Builds Confidence Ahead of Ligue 2 Return
Montpellier managed the afternoon efficiently under coach Zoumana Camara, who utilized the friendly to integrate late-summer arrivals lacking match rhythm. Camara handed hour-long outings to right-back Alpha Sissoko and wingers Yassine Benhattab and Jérémy Hatchi, while shifting Nicolas Pays into a central midfield role to accommodate the changes. Speaking to Midi Libre after the whistle, Camara noted that his side presented a serious challenge and successfully found competitive rhythm against strong opposition, even if several new faces still require physical preparation.
The visiting side currently holds fourth place in Ligue 2 with a single defeat across their opening seven league fixtures. For Montpellier, the afternoon served as a useful exercise before hosting Grenoble at the Stade de la Mosson. For Marseille, the attention shifts entirely toward a crucial upcoming league fixture against Troyes at the Stade de l’Aube, where Genesio’s men will attempt to climb out of the relegation zone.
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