Angers: match notes

After a first misstep on the pitch in Strasbourg on the last day, Olympique de Marseille wanted to return to success on their pitch at the Vélodrome against a SCO d’Angers, dead last and still looking for their first victory. of the season. For this meeting, Roberto De Zerbi had to do without the injured Koné, while Brassier, Harit and Wahi started on the bench to favor Balerdi, back after his red against OL, Garcia, Maupay and Carboni’s first start.

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In a rather controlled start to the match by the Marseillais, who had the first opportunity of the match via Greenwood (10th), OM found themselves in numerical superiority after Raolisoa’s big foul on Garcia, who was directly booked red (26th). A favorable play for OM… but for only three minutes since Maupay received a second yellow and was also sent off (29th). Enough to completely shake up the first half of Marseille, which had started well.

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OM is sounding the first alarm!

Marseille had done the hard part

But quickly after the break, OM managed to do the hard part by opening the score thanks to a first-intention strike from Rowe, who had just come on (1-0, 51st). But definitely, and again three minutes later, El-Melali struck a superb free kick to deceive Rulli, late, and equalize (1-1, 54th). OM suffered and risked faltering (57th), despite the entry of Rabiot. Murillo thought he would give Marseille the lead again with a nice cross from Garcia, but the Panamanian was penalized for a handball (67th).

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The entry of Rowe brought danger (76th and 80th), but OM, who continued to push at the end of the game, did not manage to scare Fofana, the Angevin goalkeeper. With many regrets, De Zerbi’s men went on to a second match without a win and lost two precious points before the international break by remaining in third place. The SCO, which did more than the job on the Vélodrome pitch, did not win and remained last, but obtained a more than important point for the rest of the season.

– Man of the match: Farid El Melali (7): his very nice free kick allows Angers to get back on track (54th), just three minutes after Marseille opened the score. He is even very close to the double, but he does not target his shot (57th). He used all his technique to allow Angers to project themselves forward (four successful dribbles out of six). In addition to that, the Algerian was generous in withdrawing to his right side. Replaced by Yassin Belkhdim (86e).

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Marseille Olympic

– Roll (5) : sparkling since its arrival in the Marseille city, the last Argentinian rampart once again responded against the SCO. Vigilant in his outings to cut the Angevin depth, he shone by offering a superb save on Abdelli’s missile (33rd). Reassuring in his aerial outings, he never made a mistake but could do nothing about El-Melali’s sublime free kick (54th).

– Murillo (6) : once again established on the right flank of the Marseille defense, the Panamanian managed El-Melali’s breakthroughs rather well. Attentive on the defensive level, he offered a few offensive build-ups without being decisive for more than an hour of play, like this off-target shot (63rd). On a perfect cross from Garcia, he finally beat Fofana but his goal was refused for a handball… (69th). Valuable defensively, his match remains very encouraging. Replaced by Harit (88th).

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– Balerdi (5): captain of the evening, the Argentinian defender was not really worried at the Orange Vélodrome. Calm in his rare interventions, he was however warned for protesting after the expulsion of Maupay (31st). After returning from the locker room, he continued to impose his authority on the few situations to be managed. Not much more to say…

– Cornelius (5,5) : present alongside Balerdi, the 26-year-old Canadian was preferred to Lilian Brassier for the Angers reception. Taking advantage of the collective influence of the Phocaeans, the former Panetolikos player did not have much to do. Solid in the duel (4/7) and clean in his interventions, he finally gave up his place shortly after the hour mark. Replaced by Rabiot (65th)who tried to bring percussion and his science of passing. In vain.

– Garcia (6) : aligned in a left-back position, the Swiss delivered a very coherent meeting. Solid defensively and available for his partners on the outskirts of the opposing area, he provoked the red card from Raolisoa, guilty of an uncontrolled tackle (26th). Rare satisfaction from a poor first act, the Olympian number 6 continued his business after returning from the locker room. Author of a decisive comeback against Niane (64th), he held his position perfectly and could even have afforded a decisive pass without Murillo’s hand sanctioned by Alexandre Dujeux (69th). Replaced by Brassier (82nd).

– Kondogbia (5) : back in the Marseille midfield after occupying a central defender position, OM number 19 worked well during the first 45 minutes. Present in the duel and precise in his orientation, he never found the decisive difference. Placed back in the axis of the Marseille defense after the exit of Cornelius, he retained his solidity. A seriousness – accompanied by a lack of madness – which however did not allow OM to win.

– Höjbjerg (4,5) : essential pillar of the collective led by Roberto De Zerbi, the ex-Tottenham player made a first act much less incisive. Although he made no mistakes, the Dane did not have the same impact as usual. More visible after the break, he was at the origin of Marseille’s second goal, ultimately refused for a handball from Murillo (69th). Still dangerous with a header from a corner (82nd), he was very close to giving his team the advantage but his shot lacked precision (83rd). A less striking performance…

– Carbon (3) : started for the first time this season, the young Argentinian nugget, preferred to Amine Harit, will clearly not have made an impression. Rarely found by his teammates, he never weighed on the Marseille game, except for this timid and off-target shot just before the break (45th). Warned for excessive commitment (45+4th), he finally left his team at the break. Replaced by Rowe (6.5). Hero at the end of the match against OL, the 21-year-old Englishman was once again decisive by opening the scoring with a cross shot from the right (51st). Technically correct and involved at all levels, he was very close to restoring the advantage to his team but his left shot was repelled by Fofana (76th). A striking and decisive entry.

– Greenwood (3,5) : leader of the Marseille attack since the start of the season, the Englishman tried to find the fault at the start of the match. Author of the first strike (7th) and interesting for his mobility, he saw his new attempt diverted by the Angevin goalkeeper (10th). More discreet as the minutes passed, he disappeared completely upon returning from the locker room. Overall very disappointing…

– Maupay (not rated): preferred to Wahi to start this match of the 7th day of Ligue 1, the former Brighton player experienced a nightmarish evening. Warned for a first collision (27th), he received a second yellow card a few seconds later for a sole on Aholou (30th) and left his partners at 10 against 10, after the expulsion of Raolisoa.

– Luis Henrique (3): in a left winger role, the Brazilian was regularly found by his teammates in the first half. An availability which, however, did not lead to the slightest danger. Well blocked or imprecise in his dribbles, he was unable to destabilize the Angevin block. Replaced by Wahi (65th)who never weighed in the last half hour.

Angers

– Breathing (6): the Ivorian goalkeeper had more work in the second than in the first half. He makes his first intervention on Greenwood’s shot (10th), before easily catching the Englishman’s free kick (27th) and then boxing out his cross (45th+4). Beaten by Jonathan Rowe (51st), he thought of conceding a second goal by Murillo (68th), but the Panamanian touched the ball with his hand. He is still working against Rowe (76th). He then misses his intervention from a corner, but Hojbjerg does not take advantage of it (83rd).

– Raolisoa (not noted): 11 balls touched, four lost, a cross attempted and completely missed, before being the author of the first major event of the match: this sliding, uncontrolled tackle on Uliesse Garcia which earned him a red card (24th). A nightmare.

– Biumala (5) : dominant in the air, he was on the receiving end of Marseille’s cross attempts. But the young 19-year-old defender is the author of the clearance which leads to Rowe’s goal (51st).

– Lefort (5.5): except for Rowe’s goal, OM had difficulty getting through the middle. The fault of his good placement, the red card of Maupay and an Elye Wahi, invisible after his entry.

– Hanin (5.5): facing Mason Greenwood, the left-back responded to reduce the impact of the English international. Also author of four recoveries, he responded on the defensive level. Replaced by Jacques Ekomie (86th).

– Follow (6) : the 30-year-old Ivorian midfielder did not hesitate to go into battle to rake up the balls and bother the transparent Cardoni. Clean in his transmissions, he has the opportunity to finish with a decisive pass for El Melali, whose shot misses (57th). A successful match.

– Belkebla (5) : the experienced Algerian midfielder formed an exemplary duo with Aholou in midfield to block the axis and prevent the Marseillais from being dangerous with inside passes. An encouraging performance before the next deadlines.

– El Melali (7): see above.

-Abdelli © (5): positioned behind Ibrahima Niane, he tried to find him in depth without much success (19th). He also tried to take his chance, from afar, with a superb shot, but Rulli flies away perfectly (33rd). An overall interesting match.

– Ferhat (4): apart from his blocked cross (18th), he was not in sight in the meeting. Unlike El Melali, he did not make the slightest difference on his right side and was quickly forgotten in this meeting. Replaced due to injury by Carlens Arcus (45th+3)who played as a right-back, his preferred position, following Raolisoa’s red card. The Haitian (3) made an insignificant entry. He had waste in his transmissions and sometimes had questionable placement, like on Murillo’s disallowed goal (69th), where he was too far from Garcia.

– Niane (3.5): holder for the first time this season, Senegal had a complicated match. He showed waste in his ball handling and in his decisions. Wanting to play deep, he was offside or lost the ball quickly. Replaced by Jim Allevinah (75th).