Axel Divio, Media365, published on Sunday January 19, 2025 at 11:27 p.m.
After two consecutive victories in L1, OM were held by Strasbourg on Sunday evening at the Vélodrome (1-1, 18th day). A draw that suits PSG, now in the lead with a nine-point lead.
After the cold shower following the elimination against Lille in the Coupe de France, the Vélodrome was once again disappointed. If this electric and intense OM – Strasbourg will have been pleasant to experience, Marseille supporters will complain about the inability of their team to open a significant gap on their pursuers. But also on a penalty not whistled for a foul by Guéla Doué on Jonathan Rowe (83rd). A fact of the game which even pushed the Olympian president, Pablo Longoria, to come and express his fed up live on DAZN.
If Olympique de Marseille can consider themselves cheated, this draw also follows a lackluster Marseille performance. Because OM has fallen on a bone! Already beaten in the first leg at Meinau (1-0), Marseille struggled again against a Strasbourg team who came without complexes. Tactically well in place and athletically ready to provide a great burst of energy, Liam Rosenior's men thwarted OM thanks to effective pressing. Unable to put the Alsatian defense in danger, except for two accelerations from Mason Greenwood (6th and 22nd), OM will finally take a lesson in realism. Poison in his pressing, his calls and his ball protection in a muscular duel with Leonardo Balerdi, Emanuel Emegha, well served in space by Andrey Santos, did not miss his face to face against Geronimo Rulli (0-1, 23rd). The Olympian reaction will be too timid. Only Luis Henrique stood out with a powerful shot that flew off target (37th).
-The good entry of Robinio Vaz
During the break, Roberto De Zerbi made profitable tactical changes, notably with the entry into play of the promising Robinio Vaz, who completely changed the face of his team, thanks in particular to his speed and his deep play. Mason Greenwood narrowly misses the equalizer with a cross shot (47th), Luis Henrique is blocked at the last minute (51st), before the Brazilian finds the opposite post, followed by a shot from Rowe miraculously saved on his line by Petrovic (64th). Finally, Marseille will be rewarded with the obtaining of a penalty by Robinio Vaz, converted by Mason Greenwood (1-1, 68th) who becomes top scorer in Ligue 1 with 12 goals.
Strasbourg, always so valiant, combative and inspired, will miss the opportunity to freeze the Vélodrome. On a perfect serve from Nanasi in the depth, Balerdi is overtaken by Emegha, definitely a poison, but his shot hits the left post (73rd). After this scare, OM moved forward. Robinio Vaz could have become the hero by completing a superb collective action initiated by Lirola then Merlin (80th). After Rowe's famous contentious action (83rd), the Olympians will insist, the tension will rise another notch, but the score will stay there (1-1).
Marseille had a magnificent opportunity to play to get ahead of its competitors, some of whom were in difficulty this weekend (defeats to Monaco, Nice and Lens, draw to Lyon) and keep Paris Saint-Germain at a respectable distance. Missed opportunity. OM still maintains a 5-point lead over Lille (3rd) and 6 over Monaco (4th), but lets PSG slip away at the top of Ligue 1 (9 points). Attractive this evening, the Racing Club de Strasbourg (10th, 7 points ahead of the play-off) continues a fifth consecutive match without defeat (3 wins, 2 draws), which rewards a conquering state of mind.
