Marseille – Angers: The Phocéens hang at home (1-1)

Olympique de Marseille hosted SCO Angers on Friday evening, opening the seventh day of Ligue 1. Faced with a very organized Angers team, the Phocéens were caught and played a second match in a row without success.

OM and Angers see red

Hectic first half between the two teams. The Phocaeans put the pressure on by setting up in front of the Angevin surface. But the visitors found a way out and brought danger to the Marseille camp. The first alert, however, came from OM with an attempt by Mason Greenwood which was repelled by Yahia Fofana (10^e). Angers responded with a long shot from Jean-Eudes Aholou who failed to lob Geronimo Rulli (17^e).

But instead of goals, it was rather the cards which animated this first half with an exclusion on each side. It was first Lilian Raolisoa who left Angers at 10 after a dangerous tackle on Ulisses Garcia (26^e). Then, it was Neal Maupay’s turn to be sent back to the locker room after a second yellow card in three minutes (30^e). At 10 against 10, Angers caused some fears in the Marseille camp with Abdelli (33rd, 43rd^e) which could not find the frame. The first act ended without any goals scored.

Article continues below

Goals finally, but no winner

In the second half, things came together for Marseille and Angers. As soon as the break returned, Roberto De Zerbi launched Jonathan Rowe in place of Valentin Carboni. It was the Englishman who finally broke the deadlock for OM with a low strike which surprised Yahia Fofana (1-0, 51^e). But the joy of the Phocaeans was short-lived as Farid El Melali set the record straight with a sumptuous and unstoppable free kick for Geronimo Rulli (1-1, 54^e).

After a moment of hesitation, Amir Murillo thought to give OM the advantage again but his goal was refused for a handball (69^e). Apart from a new attempt by Jonathan Rowe diverted this time, by Fofana (76^e), there was nothing left in this match which ultimately ended in a draw. Olympique de Marseille (3^e14 pts) was still missing the boat and risks falling further behind PSG and Monaco, 16 points each. For its part, Angers (3 pts) remains bottom of the table.