Diakité rewards the Mastiffs, De Zerbi not (at all) inspired… The tops and flops

Tops

Bafode Diakité rewards LOSC

A saving face. Led by the score from the 17th^e minute of play, LOSC created many clear chances this Saturday afternoon against Olympique de Marseille, but came across a Gerónimo Rulli of the big nights who made several decisive saves against Jonathan David, in particular. We thought that the Mastiffs were going to lose. It was without counting on Bafodé Dikakité who equalized, in the 87th^e minute of play, with a header as magnificent as it was unstoppable from an indirect free kick off-centre on the left side. A goal which allowed the Northerners to snatch a (good) point at the Orange Vélodrome stadium.

First for Quentin Merlin

Great first for Quentin Merlin. Once again established on the left side, the Marseille piston scored his first goal with Olympique de Marseille this Saturday afternoon. Taking advantage of a magnificent three-way combination then a precise serve from Adrien Rabiot, the ex-Nantais player deceived the vigilance of Lucas Chevalier with his left foot…after a feinting strike with his left foot. Unfortunately for him, his achievement did not offer victory to his team.

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Flops

Roberto De Zerbi my inspiration

This is what we could call “coaching perdant“. While his team held on to the match, and was going better and better, Roberto De Zerbi chose to leave Valentin Rongier – once again valuable in the Marseille midfield – to bring in Derek Cornelius in central defense…this which pushed Geoffrey Kondogiba, excellent at the back this Saturday afternoon, to play in midfield. Tactical adjustments which upset the Marseille balance and which allowed the Mastiffs to snatch the equalizer at the end of the match.

Pol Lirola's ugly gesture

Entered at 75^e minute of play in place of Quentin Merlin, Pol Lirola did not have the (same) performance as the ex-Nantes player. Worse, he was the author of an extremely dangerous tackle – his foot was not at all at ground level – on André Gomes. The referee of the match, also criticized by the Marseillais at the end of the match for a story of a (possible?) penalty not being whistled, did not hesitate and immediately, and logically, excluded him. A red card which had no impact on the end of the match but an ugly gesture nonetheless.

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Jonathan David not at his level

We were waiting for him…And he didn't show up. In full swing, Ligue 1 top scorer Jonathan David created several clear chances in the first half. But the Canadian, particularly imprecise this Saturday afternoon, lost all his duels against Marseille goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli…After the break, he was much more discreet. Unsatisfactory for a player of his caliber.