L'OM off Lens – Ligue 1 – J12 – Lens-OM (1-3)

Buts : Fulgini (80^e) for the Lensois // Rongier (49^e), Luis Henrique (57^e), Höjbjerg (89^e) for the Marseillais.

Seven trips, six successes (only one setback in Strasbourg), OM likes to move away from a Vélodrome that it struggles to coax. In a game that was initially frustrating despite the intensity, then subsided, Valentin Rongier's band left Bollaert, and the Lensois, in the cold of winter, consolidated their place on the podium.

A purring start

At the end of this afternoon, binging on the couch while watching the downpours from the window, Will Still's men thought they would quickly put a smile on Uncle Gervais's face. The boss Martel, 70 years old, was escorted by a guard of honor for a kick-off which had nothing fictitious in terms of emotions. The second thrill in a packed Bollaert came from Machado, too short of the head (3^e) then Nzola, who came to tickle Rulli’s shin (7^e), the beginnings of a day when the Olympian goalkeeper would once again deliver. Höjbjerg, one of the Marseillais mistreated in this experimental 3-5-2 concocted by De Zerbi, opens his foot too much (9^e).

The Olympian locker room may have taken a beating after the Auxerre spanking before the break (1-3), but the actions are struggling to keep up (10 shots to 3 at the break for the Sang et Or). Lens insists after a timid strike from Greenwood (21st^e). The Sotoca praline is boxed by Rulli (22^e), then Medina is not precise of the head (26^e). Ditto for Da Costa, not about to make Rulli tremble, solid on his supports (42^e), nor Nzola in the wake of a first rejected shot (42^e).

Rongier turns the light back on

But this season, the Northerners are too uncomfortable to plant pawns. Neither does Valentin Rongier, by the way, but the Marseille midfielder, started for the first time since the end of September in Lyon (2-3), explodes the visitor's yard after returning from the locker room. A four-star service from Maupay, who had crunched just before half-time (40^e), followed by a flat foot to make Samba groggy (0-1, 49^e). With an angry fist, Rongier – for his third goal at OM since his arrival in 2019 – sounded the bugle. Cliniques, the Marseillais, much sharper in transitions, took off ten minutes later. Maupay, again, is at the initiative of a counter. He heades back a corner then serves, 70 meters further after frantically chasing Luis Henrique.

A copy and paste of Rongier’s strike (0-2, 57^e). A great way to shelter in place until those crazy last ten minutes. Entering the game, Fulgini gives hope to his family (1-2, 80^e)then Labeau-Lascary definitively believes he is putting everything right side up on a counter express (85^e). It was counting without VAR and a logical fault at the start of the action, on the kid Nadir. Goal canceled, free kick for Marseille and Höjbjerg as a cold-blooded killer who sends a mine at ground level (1-3, 89^e). Better, De Zerbi even allowed Wahi to smile by bringing him in during stoppage time under the Lens bronca. What an evening!

Revivez Lens-OM (1-3)