Olympique de Marseille secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League on Thursday, but the performance of Brazilian winger Igor Paixão has become a significant point of concern ahead of a key Ligue 1 match against RC Lens, But! Football Club reported.
Paixão, who has struggled for form in recent weeks, started on the left flank against Leverkusen but failed to meet expectations. Despite showing some initiative, including an interesting attempt in the 56th minute, his lack of precision in decision-making and passing, along with numerous lost possessions, limited his impact on the game, the outlet stated. His performance was summarized by a 4/10 rating from the French newspaper L’Équipe.
Head coach Bruno Genesio substituted Paixão for the young Tadjidine Mmadi in the 71st minute. Six minutes later, Amine Gouiri scored the winning goal for Marseille. But! Football Club noted the stark contrast in impact immediately following the substitution.
Mounting Pressure on the Brazilian Winger
The persistent underperformance is raising serious questions about Paixão’s role at the club. The media outlet reported that his activity is no longer sufficient to compensate for a lack of technical sharpness and poor offensive choices, leading to growing uncertainty around the former Feyenoord player.
This comes despite Marseille’s efforts to retain him over the summer. Paixão was a key contributor last season, scoring 12 goals and providing 7 assists. However, he has not been able to build on that success so far in the 2026-27 campaign.
Genesio’s Continued Confidence
Despite the criticism, Genesio has publicly maintained his confidence in Paixão. According to Foot Mercato, the coach addressed the winger’s situation in a press conference, stating that he is judged too harshly on his personal statistics.
“There is no problem with him. We judge him too much on statistics (he has two goals and two assists in 12 matches in all competitions), the coach is quoted as saying. “I judge him on his investment for the team. Against Leverkusen, he made a lot of defensive runs, like a fifth defender. That is as important as scoring or making an assist. I don’t think he’s overplaying. For me, he is in clear progress. He may have had a small moment where things were complicated in his head.”
Genesio emphasized that Paixão’s commitment to the team’s project is the most important factor for him. “Recently, Igor is fully invested in the team project and that is the most important thing for me,” Foot Mercato reported him as saying.
Paixão’s Defensive Contribution
The coach’s praise for Paixão’s defensive work was echoed in coverage from RMC Sport, which highlighted Genesio describing the winger’s efforts as those of a “fifth defender.”
The report noted that Genesio is “praising the ‘clear progress'” of the player, specifically pointing out his defensive contributions during the match against Leverkusen.
A Decisive Test in Lens
With Marseille currently sitting 6th in Ligue 1 and seeking to build on their recent positive run, the away match at Lens on Sunday presents a crucial opportunity for Paixão to turn things around, Homme Du Match reported. The match is scheduled for 20:45 local time (CET).
RC Lens enters the contest reeling from a heavy 1-9 defeat against Como. However, the team is still known for its physical intensity, which will pose a significant challenge for Marseille. The Marseillais will require greater precision in their offensive transitions to secure a result.
Paixão will likely be given another chance to prove his worth. After several matches where he has failed to deliver, the Brazilian will need to show a different side to his game. The high expectations at Marseille mean that the patience of supporters is not unlimited, as But!
What’s Next for Paixão and Marseille
The immediate focus is the match against Lens. A strong performance from Paixão could help solidify his place in the squad and silence some of his critics. Conversely, another disappointing display could intensify the debate over his future at the club.
Following the game against Lens, Marseille will continue their campaign in both Ligue 1 and the Europa League, where the recent victory over Leverkusen has provided a much-needed boost. The club’s supporters will be hoping Paixão can rediscover the form that made him one of the key players last season.
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