OM sank in Brest, despite having numerical superiority for 30 minutes. A catastrophic result.
OM is in its place. And perhaps even too high in this Ligue 1 ranking, after another disappointment (1-0) away on the pitch at Stade Brestois. In numerical superiority for 30 minutes after the red card received by Steve Mounié for a gesture of humor on Leonardo Balerdi, the Marseillais were dramatically sterile and harmless. A scenario to which Olympian supporters are accustomed when their opponents are reduced to 10. Against Metz, Nantes and Monaco, OM had already been incapable of winning and even being dominant in this scenario.
Brest, the great story of this 2023-2024 season, was not afraid for a single second in this part and showed its enthusiasm and efficiency. Grégoire Coudert, the usual replacement goalkeeper for the Breton club, spent a particularly quiet evening, against the weak and clueless Marseillais.
OM should have had a penalty
The Phocéens should certainly have benefited from a penalty in the first period after a foul by Pierre Lees-Melou on Iliman Ndiaye, but the referees present in the VAR truck were almost as lethargic as the OM players. This cannot be enough to explain this defeat and, above all, the manner. Lees-Melou, who came close to the penalty box in the first half, turned into the hero of the match in the final minutes by taking advantage of a poor recovery from Ulysses Garcia to erase Balerdi and deceive Ruben Blanco with a shot crystal clear (1-0, 88th). An achievement which propels the Finisterians to second place in the Ligue 1 standings.
Gennaro Gattuso may have difficulty resisting the storm brewing above La Canebière. Everyone is aware that the top 4 is now most likely out of reach. And the lack of impact that the Italian seems to have on this team is pretty terrible. His choice to rotate the squad at kick-off, by putting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Geoffrey Kondogbia on the bench, then reshuffling his cards in vain afterwards, will be criticized.
The leaders made it known that the future of the former AC Milan midfielder was not in question on the sidelines of this match. He is not the only one responsible for the depressing period experienced by OM, but what is his contribution concretely, he whose system and cautious approach do not have the slightest positive effect?
