OM are in the right rhythm: efficient and solid if not very brilliant, Marseille beat Nice 2-0 at home on a festive Saturday and thus provisionally installed themselves at the top of the Ligue 1 standings with 10 points in four games.
Massed in numbers of more than 65,000 at the Stade Vélodrome, the Marseille fans had a whole battery of anniversaries to celebrate on Saturday: the 125th anniversary of the club, already, saluted by a collector’s and immaculate jersey, but also the 30th anniversary of the MTP and the 40th anniversary of the CU84, two of the main groups of supporters, and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the city, not forgotten by the South Winners.
Once all these candles were extinguished, the OM supporters still had a little breath to whistle Jonathan Clauss, who left this summer for the opposing camp, and to push their team, which needed it not to spoil the party.
Because the first period was rather closed between the (very) cautious Niçois and the Marseillais whose ideas were a little less clear than during the first three days.
With Valentin Rongier placed on the right of the defence for his return to the starting 11 for the first time in 10 months, Roberto De Zerbi’s players struggled to find space and initially had to settle for two harmless strikes from Luis Henrique (4th) and Mason Greenwood (30th).
And while the Aiglons had threatened Geronimo Rulli with a beautiful volley from Melvin Bard on the outside of the post (37th), it was finally on a completely harmless ball, horribly poorly defended by Youssuf Ndayishimiye, that Marseille found the opening, via Neal Maupay (1-0, 40th).
– Cornelius expelled –
For his debut as a starter with OM, the former Everton, Brighton and… Nice striker was therefore efficient and constantly worked to hamper the opposing defense.
In the second half, OM suffered again before wrapping things up and Rulli, for the moment more fortunate than truly reassuring, was miraculously saved by his post on a free kick from Jérémie Boga (50th).
It was the last real thrill for OM as De Zerbi’s team then doubled the lead with a magnificent strike from Luis Henrique after a pass from Amine Harit (2-0, 53rd).
This new goal confirms the excellent start to the season for the Brazilian with the improbable trajectory, he who in January, having barely returned from a loan to his country, seemed destined to leave again without even opening his suitcases.
Marseille still had to continue working afterwards, especially after the sending off of defender Derek Cornelius, which was both a bit stupid – he gained time on a free kick – and frankly harsh (75th).
But despite the absences of Leonardo Balerdi and Quentin Merlin, the defense remained solid and did not concede a goal for the first time this season, which is reassuring before going to Lyon on Sunday. The Marseillais also picked up their first victory of the season at the Vélodrome after coming out frustrated from their draw against Reims (2-2).
In the end, it all ended in the fog of smoke bombs lit in the 84th minute by the forty-somethings of Commando Ultra and in the 94th minute by the thirty-somethings of MTP. The sanctions for that may come, but on Saturday, the party was great and the birthdays joyful.
stt/bvo
