Clément Pédron, Media365, published on Friday November 8, 2024 at 11:01 p.m.
At the opening of the 11th day, AJ Auxerre perfectly negotiated its trip to Bouches-du-Rhône with a clear and flawless victory over OM (1-3). Are the Marseillais already in crisis?
We expected a vengeful Olympique de Marseille, who had not been able to do so at home until now. We expected an incisive Olympique de Marseille after their success against Nantes last week. We expected Olympique de Marseille to be motivated by the idea of facing a promoted side galvanized by a victory eight days ago against Stade Rennais. This Friday evening, at the opening of the 11th day of Ligue 1, we expected a lot of things from Roberto De Zerbi's men and we were treated to nothing at all. A damp squib in a way, the complete opposite of AJ Auxerre who were explosive as soon as they projected themselves with the ball. His counter-based game plan worked almost every time and should cause some turmoil among his opponent for several days.
We knew OM were in trouble in front of their public, they confirmed it again this Friday evening and the Orange Vélodrome did not take long to rumble. Because from the 10th minute of play, Sinayoko took advantage of a reading error from Brassier on a long ball to open the scoring with the flat of his foot (0-1, 10'). One would have thought that this goal would have awakened the Marseillais but nope. The Phocéens chained harmless passes, monopolized the ball without doing anything or too little to worry Donovan Léon. In short, the complete opposite of AJA who doubled the lead two minutes before the break with a new counter-attack magnificently concluded by Perrin after a feint on Rulli (0-2, 43'), before scoring a third goal signed Hamed Traoré (0-3, 45').
An illegible OM
Unable to wake his men up, Roberto De Zerbi made three changes at the break which did not prove to be very decisive. Worse, the AJA has, on several occasions, shown itself capable of scoring a fourth goal or even a fifth goal without a clumsiness unnoticed until now. Shortly after the hour mark, OM caused their fate with a penalty following a handball from Akpa and Greenwood reduced the gap (1-3, 65'). But even this achievement did not boost the Phocaeans who were content to approach as close as possible to the cage to the rhythm of countless passes. And this behavior, more than the entire performance, risks giving the side of Olympique de Marseille, who lose more than a match, a real opportunity to come back to within 3 points of PSG. For AJA, on the other hand, it is a second victory against a big team and the start of a formidable series.
