Three days after the debacle in Porto (3-0) in the Champions League, Marseille rebounded by winning without shining in Strasbourg (1-0), Friday, November 6, at the opening of the 10e day of L1. But the Marseillais still had a mediocre match, especially in the first period, where their performance was really poor.
The changes made by André Villas-Boas, however, have paid off and allowed OM to score three important points to temporarily climb back to fourth place with 18 units on the clock.
Racing, which did not deserve to lose, tried but failed to be very dangerous. The Alsatians remain penultimate with only 6 points.
The choices of Villas-Boas
Seventy-two hours after OM’s third defeat in three European matches, “AVB” had struck a big blow by leaving playmaker Dimitri Payet and striker Dario Benedetto on the bench to give Valère Germain his first start of the season. Opposite, in the absence of Ludovic Ajorque, suspended, it is Adrien Thomasson who accompanied Habib Diallo on the front of the Alsatian attack.
The first period was really boring between harmless Marseillais and Strasbourg too imprecise. Apart from an exit from Steve Mandanda outside his area to clear in extremis in touch in front of Kenny Lala (28e), not much has happened …
Upon returning from the locker room, Villas-Boas launched Sanson in place of Pape Gueye to try to wake up his team, too timid in the first period, and it was quickly seen. Racing also put more intensity, which offered a livelier start to the second half.
One shot, one goal
Thus, OM obtained a first situation: served in the box by Florian Thauvin, Germain delivered a cross at the far post that Lala intercepted with the chest just in front of Michaël Cuisance who was about to resume (51e). The Strasbourg residents were quick to respond with a strike from Anthony Caci slightly deflected by Yuto Nagatomo who crashed on the crossbar while Mandanda had not made the slightest gesture (58e). Then the Marseille goalkeeper blocked a shot from Thomasson (60e). It was then Diallo who achieved a good sequence of chest control, thigh control and volleying, but his attempt did not find the frame (69e).
Shortly before, Payet and Benedetto had made their entry in place of Thauvin and Cuisance to bring freshness to the Marseille offensive sector. The coaching of Villas-Boas quickly bore fruit since OM, once is not customary, demonstrated efficiency by opening the scoring on their first clear opportunity: on the ground after contact with Mohamed Simakan, Payet centered at the penalty spot for Benedetto, who headed back Sanson, whose unstoppable half volley hit the mark (0-1, 72e). It was the first, and it will be the only, shot in the Marseille match of the meeting!
Without the manner, Marseille provided the essential, but will have to show a better face to stay in the heights of the Ligue 1 standings.
