It’s a rare thing in sport, but sometimes a draw results in two losers. This was the case this Wednesday evening in the match counting for the 29th day of Ligue 1 between OM and Nice (2-2). Each team needed points, Marseille to catch up on the European places, Nice to consolidate theirs and aim for the Champions League. Ultimately, it is the direct competitors of these two teams who are rubbing their hands.
It was difficult to imagine the Olympians capable of responding to the physical challenge imposed by the Niçois, particularly in midfield, after the riot of energy over 120 minutes against Benfica in the Europa League, followed by a trip to Toulouse last Sunday (2 -2). Even more surprising, it was a man returning from injury, who had not set foot on a pitch for a month, who resolved the situation. Jonathan Clauss recovered a ball at the entrance to the opposing area, controlled with his chest, left a rebound and followed up with a volley which left Marcin Bulka (31st) no chance.
Aubameyang, almost hero savior
Marseille is then back in the match and has awakened a slightly dozing Vélodrome contrary to its habits, the fault of a match on Wednesday evening and a partially closed south turn. But now the appearance of the match has once again leaned in favor of the visitors. Faris Moumbagna, hero of his team with two crucial goals in the last two matches, was guilty of a pressing error and hooked Antoine Mendy’s leg after losing the ball. Second yellow card, he therefore joined the locker room a few seconds before the 21 other players in the game.
But after coming back from the dead in a poorly started Europa League quarter-final last week and snatching the equalizer in Toulouse on Sunday, the Marseillais did not intend to give up. Jérémie Pignard then gave them a nice gift after returning from the locker room: while clearing the ball after a corner, Mohamed Ali Cho left a stud trailing on Balerdi’s shin. An almost innocuous gesture but not in the eyes of the man in black in the evening, who did not change his mind even after the call from his colleagues to check himself on his screen if there was indeed a mistake.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did not need to be asked to transform the offering into a gift for his family (56th) and score his 13th goal of the season in Ligue 1. It took a Bard and a bar to that Marseille does not leave with the three points. The first, Melvin for his first name, launched a low strike after a cross poorly cleared by the Marseille defense to deceive Pau Lopez (72nd). The second, the cross of its full “name”, repelled an attempt by Aubameyang in added time.
“The epic of OM took everyone by surprise”
At the end of an epic solo number, which brought down Rosario and Dante, the Gabonese dived in front of Bulka and saw the leather crash into the post. A goal which would have changed his status from great man of the Marseille season to hero. But this is not the case and OM are still five points behind Lens, which occupies sixth place, synonymous with qualification for the Europa Conference League, which would already be a failure for the Olympian season. As for Nice, here is the club still within shooting distance of Lens and Rennes and far enough from Lille (4 points) to look as much behind as in front.
 at the Vélodrome stadium){kind=link}