OM delivered a great performance against Atalanta Bergamo (1-1) on Thursday in the Europa League, without however managing to gain a small advantage. But in the game, the Marseillais shook up this team like rarely, assures Johann Crochet, specialist in Italian football for RMC.
Regrets and hope. Dominant, OM failed to win against Atalanta Bergamo (1-1), Thursday during the semi-final first leg of the Europa League. But Marseille’s good performance can fuel big ambitions before the return match in a week in Italy. Inconsistent in the championship, Jean-Louis Gasset’s men have manhandled the Italian team, accustomed to the top of the table in Serie A for several seasons, as rarely, according to Johann Crochet, specialist in Italian football on RMC Sport.
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“They were expensive on all the long balls towards Aubameyang”
“It was far from being Atalanta’s best match, struggling with the intensity and strength in the duels,” he confided in After Foot on RMC on Thursday. “I have seen a lot of good things from OM. I have seen very few teams in Serie A putting Atalanta in difficulty on this specific level (intensity and duels).” According to him, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men did not play economical.
“I think they were really bothered by what OM proposed.”
The early exit of Sead Kolasinac (17th) gave the Marseillais a little boost with the repositioning of Marten de Roon in the left axis of the defense. “It’s very complicated, especially in terms of speed,” notes Johann Crochet. “There was a clear gap between all the OM players and De Roon. We might have to find another option next week. You won’t be able to show up with this defensive line on the left.”
He expects an indecisive match next Thursday in Italy. “I saw Atalanta do much better but OM’s plan was very interesting, I don’t know if they will succeed in doing it in Bergamo. Atalanta is 6th in Serie A, they have lost matches “They (the Italians) took dearly on all the long balls towards Aubameyang in terms of speed and speed of execution. What was problematic was that the midfield was empty in transitions.”
