This time, no silky shot came to clean the opposing skylight like the one that had placed it, in 2007 in the freshness of Liverpool, in the hearts of Marseille supporters. Wednesday October 21, Mathieu Valbuena was satisfied with an assist. Opposed to Olympique de Marseille (OM), for the return of the Phocéens to the Champions League after seven years of scarcity, the pocket playmaker of Olympiakos Piraeus had plenty of time to adjust his pass in the direction of ‘Ahmed Hassan, in added time. The head of the replacement striker crucified Marseille and rewarded the Greek team, more offensive (0-1).
“You have to believe that my story with OM was not over yet”, savored Mathieu Valbuena in The team a few days before the meeting. At 36 years old and at the height of his 1.67m, he offered a lesson in mobility and precision to OM strikers – Dimitri Payet in the lead. Head held high, always well placed, in time and rarely worried, the “Little bike” was remembered fondly by Marseille. And showed why the fiery Olympiakos fans adopted him as heroes.
OM made their comeback in the “big” European competition – the one where they are “Forever the first” French winners -, and hoped to start better than in his last campaign, completed on the infamous note of six defeats in as many games. And during part of the meeting, the men of André Villas Boas worked hard to try to destabilize the Greek champion. But in a cathedral-like Karaiskakis stadium – behind closed doors, due to the health situation – the arrows of the Olympians from France did not find their target.
In turn, Dario Benedetto – as ghostly as in recent months – and Florian Thauvin have tried to deceive the vigilance of Jose Sa, the porter of the Olympiakos. But without forcing, the Olympians – from Greece – dodged the wave coming from the old trading post founded by the Greeks from Phocée. Then, they in turn surged towards Marseille cages. At the baton, Mathieu Valbuena in verve, combining wonderfully with Bouchalakis and Holebas to place offerings in front of Mandanda’s goal. But, neither Yann M’vila, nor Youssef El-Arabi – also former Ligue 1 – found the framework.
A victory which “is played out in the details”
Back from the locker room full of energy, the teammates of a Dimitri Payet hardly in legs tried to accelerate. But Benedetto would lock himself in the opposing goalkeeper, ideally launched towards a duel. And the Marseillais directly paid for this lack of realism. By pushing back a shot from Valbuena, well stopped by the Marseille goalkeeper, Masouras thought to open the scoring. But for an offside stud, the Greek goal was denied. Touched, but not sunk, OM bent back, decided to score a point, failing victory.
” VS‘is the Champions League, it is played on details “, noted after the meeting Andre Villas Boas, annoyed. Like a missed control from Jordan Amavi in added time, after stealing the ball from Valbuena. Withdrawal of the ball, the Marseille side was in the front rows to admire the umpteenth center of the goblin of Piraeus finally find a victorious header. ” It’s going fast, it’s the Champions League, Amavi commented on RMC Sport’s microphone. I think we could have avoided it but unfortunately we lost this match. “
If Marseille did not come far from winning the draw, this tenth defeat in a row in the Champions League – they have not won since February 2012 and a reception from Inter – is not undeserved. And to hope to stand up to Manchester City and FC Porto, the other teams in the group, OM will have to quickly find many answers.
Comfortable in the jersey of his third “Olympique” (apart from Marseille and Piraeus, he also defended the colors of Lyon), Mathieu Valbuena no longer asks himself any questions. “It was a very special match for me, I have a little pang in my heart but we deserve this victory, confessed the French leader, questioned by the broadcaster. We played a very good game and I was decisive. Today I am at Olympiakos, I am very happy. ” Conspired by the public when he returned to the Stade Vélodrome in 2015, he will have more than one trick up his sleeve to exhibit at his former club.
