OM settled for a draw in Hamburg this Thursday against Shakhtar Donetsk, in the first leg of the Europa League play-off (2-2).
Apart from a short success over Thionville in the Coupe de France at the start of January, OM has not been able to win any of its matches in 2024. This Thursday in the first leg of the Europa League play-off – for a place in the round of 16 final – the Marseille club came up against Shakhtar Donetsk on the lawn of the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg. On a new, most infuriating scenario (2-2).
Twice the Olympians led the score in this balanced game which saw each of the two teams have their moment in the first act. After the hour mark, Aubameyang opened the scoring after a good cross from Clauss (0-1, 64e). Only this same Clauss immediately missed his rear, allowing Matviienko to hit the mark in his turn (1-1, 68e).
Condemned to doubt
At the end of the match, in the last minute of regulation time, it was an opportunist Ndiaye, who entered the game, who gave the Phocéens the advantage (1-2, 90e). But the colossus with feet of clay once again faltered, giving in to a header from Eguinaldo placed in the middle of a curiously apathetic defense (2-2, 90e+3).
At the final whistle, paradoxically, the good operation is to the credit of the Ukrainians, who next week will travel without any pressure to Marseille. Until then, OM is unlikely to emerge from the doubt in which the team has been mired for a good two months now. Unless there is a positive turnaround on Sunday on the Brest pitch. Improbable given the shortcomings still displayed today by Gennaro Gattuso’s collective.
