Six years after their Homeric qualification against Leipzig (5-2), OM will return to the semi-finals of the Europa League. Defeated in the first leg on the field of Benfica Lisbon (1-2), the Marseille team equalized on both matches in the 79th minute, by Faris Moumbagna, before snatching their visa for the semi-finals. finals at the end of the penalty shootout.
Marseille will challenge Atalanta Bergamo (May 2 and 9), in the hope of experiencing the sixth European final in its history. A prospect that was still distant in the first period, even if OM tried to get the start of the match, under the leadership of Azzedine Ounahi, against the low and tight block of Benfica. Aggressive, Jean-Louis Gasset’s players, however, were not fair enough in the last thirty meters to put the opposing team in difficulty.
The control of the premises logically led to a minimum of chances, a single shot on target from Iliman Ndiaye (8th) and an off-target volley from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (24th), overall a little lonely. Little in danger, the Lisbon eleven made only too rare appearances at the other end of the field, so that the inventory of its actions is minimalist: a shot from David Neres blocked by Samuel Gigot (4th) and a outside of Rafa Silva’s right off target (16th).
Not discouraged, the Marseillais resumed in domination mode after the break, without Chancel Mbemba, replaced by Michael Murillo. A three-way game between Jordan Veretout, Aubameyang and Geoffrey Kondogbia led to a dangerous strike from the latter (57th), but Benfica Lisbon rebelled in the process by Di Maria, blocked, then Fredrik Aursnes, who did not his dived ball was not on target (58th).
With the match becoming more and more unbridled under the leadership of a conquering OM, Amine Harit in turn attempted a strike, repelled by Anatoliï Troubine (60th). Faulted on a corner six minutes later by releasing a ball, the Ukrainian goalkeeper immediately recovered in the continuation of the action by repelling a shot from Jordan Veretout (66th). A volley from Faris Moumbagna (69th) blocked by Bah with an arm stuck to the body then fueled the offensive chronicle, as well as a fantastic save on his line from Troubine against a recovery from Kondogbia (68th).
More and more urgent and present, were the Marseillais going to change their destiny? Like a cat pretending to sleep, Benfica left its camp to scratch and force Pau Lopez into two saving saves against strikes from Rafa Silva and Di Maria (74th).
After coming close to the worst, Marseille secured the best, with this cross from the left from Aubameyang for Moumbagna’s head, between Troubine’s legs (1-0, 79th). During extra time, obtained thanks to this goal, Pau Lopez stood out again twice (98th, 108th), while Aubameyang narrowly missed the target following a subtle lob from outside the right (101st).
The shooting session, an epilogue increasingly awaited as the minutes passed, was offered to OM, who benefited from Di Maria’s shot on the post and the new save from their goalkeeper against Antonio Silva. Author of an average season in Ligue 1, far from its ambitions, OM is stretching its European dream.
The player: Pau Lopez, this hero
OM’s qualification is largely due to their goalkeeper, who kept his team alive during regulation time thanks to his two successive saves against strikes from Rafa Silva and Di Maria (74th). He was also decisive during extra time by stopping Di Maria’s diving header (98th) and repelling Arthur Cabral’s shot (108th). The final touch of his evening was his decisive save against Antonio Silva’s penalty, just before Luis Henrique closed the session.
