A goal, finally, and even two to afford a 2-1 victory and a last hope of qualifying for the Europa League: Marseille ended their horrible streak of 13 Champions League defeats by beating Olympiakos on Tuesday 1st December at the Stade Vélodrome.
Souleymane Diawara, OM’s last scorer in C1 – it was in 2013 – therefore has a successor. His name is Dimitri Payet, who hit two fine penalties (55e and 75e) to treat the self-esteem of the Marseillais, which has been hard hit since the start of this European season.
On each of the winning shots of N.10, the Vélodrome sound system resonated a little loud for an empty stadium but finally, this first goal in C1 was long overdue and the fear of the humiliating zero point was well worth a little bombing. the chest.
A little bit of light
Because the avalanche of defeats is over and the counter was stuck at 13. This success is good for OM, which finally finds a little light in its European tunnel, but the continental affairs of André’s team Villas-Boas remain complicated.
In the race for the 3e qualifying place for the Europa League, the particular difference remains in fact favorable to the Greeks. This means that to pass, the Marseillais will have to do better next week on Manchester City than Olympiakos against Porto.
However, after a rather convincing success on Saturday against Nantes (3-1), the Marseillais again seemed to be suffering at the top level for a long time and were led 1-0 at the break, on a nice shot at the top of the Guinean Mady Camara (33e), formerly of AC Ajaccio.
The Marseille balance sheet was then still very poor. School up to the opposing 30m, OM became completely powerless beyond this limit, no one succeeding in making the slightest difference, creating the slightest gap, or eliminating any opponent.
Of course, against Olympiakos, theoretically more accessible, Mandanda’s teammates suffered less than against Manchester City or Porto. They were sometimes in control of the game, but at such a modest tempo that they didn’t risk creating much danger on José Sa’s goal.
Twice Payet
Comfortable against Nantes, the Payet-Thauvin-Benedetto trio once again struggled to exist at this level. A blow of the scarf for the N.10, a failed heel and bad choices for the winger, some rare actions in handing for the Argentinian, nothing sharp.
Rongier’s two strikes (25e and 30e) were not much either and Germain’s entry after the break, in place of Benedetto, did not change anything at first.
But the center forward has put away well on Thauvin to allow the world champion to enter the box, where Cissé caught his ankle to offer Payet his first penalty of the evening (55e).
The Reunionese, who had missed in Porto in the same exercise, returned to the penalty spot ten minutes later. Because on a heavy strike from Rongier, Rafinha protected his face with his elbow. The referee whistled for free kick, then penalty, the VAR showing him that Rafinha had his heels on the line of the penalty area.
The Marseillais then failed to score the 3e goal which would have allowed them to pass in front of Olympiakos in the standings. But they won, flattered their pride a little and they have the right to go to Manchester to play a game in a week.
