Despite a very worrying first period, Olympique de Marseille won at Bollaert against RC Lens (1-3). Two weeks after the defeat against Auxerre at the Vélodrome (1-3), the Marseille club is breathing. The notes of the Phocaeans.
Jostled, even manhandled for 45 minutes, the Marseillais resisted until the break, as best they could. Transformed upon returning from the locker room, no doubt thanks to a poignant speech from Roberto De Zerbi at half-time, Neal Maupay and his partners capsized RC Lens, before sinking it for good.
The evening striker also played a very big role in this victory, he who is a decisive double passer and who put up an outstanding fight against Kevin Danso throughout the match, before his exit in added time. During the last five minutes, the turning point of the match. RC Lens believes they have equalized, but a foul on Nadir is reported near the Sang et Or area. Hojbjerg converts the free kick (88th) and cools Bollaert.
Two weeks after the setback against AJ Auxerre, and the strong declarations of Roberto De Zerbi, OM bounced back perfectly. On the other hand, RC Lens does not continue and signs a third defeat in the last four days of Ligue 1.
Ratings of Olympique de Marseille players
Good and bad. A double save, to start with the good one, at the end of the first period and a superb save on N'Zola after returning from the locker room. But also very approximate full-axis restarts and short play, sometimes, which put his partners in difficulty and his team in danger.
He ended up conceding a goal from Fulgini on a mix-up ten minutes from time.
Not much to say about Murillo's match. In the first half, Lensois mainly attacked on his opposite side, so he was not really in difficulty. The full-back was useful to close the far post and ward off the danger on a few Sang et Or crosses coming from the right.
On the verge of collapse in the first half, the Marseille captain recovered in the second, like his team. The Argentinian did not give in during the stormy period, and raised his head after returning from the locker room. Unlucky, he missed his two interventions on reducing the RC Lens score to the 81st).
Warned just after the hour mark because caught by an oriented control from Andy Diouf (66th), the usual midfielder was solid against Lens. Perhaps the most reassuring of his team defensively, if we take into account the entire meeting and in particular this very delicate first period. A real option to replace Lilian Brassier, not selected for this match, two weeks after Auxerre.
In pain. Often taken behind his back by calls from Pereira Da Costa or N'Zola, Garcia was targeted by RC Lens as a weak point in the OM defense. Better when returning from the locker room in combat and aggression, like the rest of his teammates. Booked in the 91st minute for a dangerous tackle on Frankowski.
Not the most reassuring match for the Dane in midfield. This evening, Hojbjerg suffered particularly in the first period against the pressing and aggressiveness of Lens. Returning from the locker room, Marseille's two goals did them good and the balance of power was reversed. The former Tottenham player gained momentum at the end of the match, before scoring the winning free kick, with a powerful, low shot.
Transparent in the first period, he was very visible upon returning from the locker room. On his first projection, the defensive midfielder offers a perfect solution to Maupay and deceives Samba with a powerful inside foot in one touch. A goal which allows OM to take the advantage at Bollaert.
Replaced in the 77th minute by Bilal Nadir.
Confident a few days after his double for the French team against Italy (1-3), Adrien Rabiot occupied a position that he appreciates since this evening, Roberto De Zerbi aligned him in the left half-space, player's preferred area. In the first half, when his team sank, he was one of the few (the only one?) to press and try to move forward, like this very high interception and this cross in the process in the 9th minute. Rabiot is not far from provoking the red of Medina at the hour of play, on a new projection.
While he had a really gloomy game, the Brazilian winger found his way to goal this evening at Bollert. On a counter after a poorly negotiated Lensois corner, he concluded the action carried out by Greenwood and Maupay with an unstoppable cross strike. 5th goal in 12 days of Ligue 1, to highlight.
Enterprising, but quite messy at the start of the match. The Englishman was quite free this evening at Bollaert on the Marseille offensive front. But without much success during the first 45 minutes. A too soft shot in the 25th minute with the flat of the foot, captured by Samba. More daring in the second, he initiated the action to open the score for his team, and led the counter on the break goal before the hour mark.
Replaced in the 81st minute by Jonathan Rowe.
Engaged in a big fight with Kevin Danso, the Marseille striker suffered against the Austrian's imposing size. Maupay struggled with his dropouts, which usually do OM good. Well served at the end of the first period by Garcia, he did not find the target in a face to face with Samba.
But from the start of the second period, he managed to keep the ball against Danso, and the result: it hit the mark. He shifts Rongier who finishes with one touch. in the 57th minute, it was Luis Henrique's turn to receive the offering from Maupay, author, therefore, of two decisive passes.
Replaced in the 92nd minute by Elye Wahi.
