Olympique de Marseille was held by OGC Nice this Wednesday in a late match counting for the 29th day of Ligue 1 (2-2).
In this season of all contrasts, lovers of Olympique de Marseille were wondering what face their protégés would show in this Mediterranean duel against Nice. That of the last weeks in the championship, laborious and porous? Or that of the great European evenings, courageous and stunning? This is the second version that the Gasset gang proposed this Thursday evening.
Stuck in the soft underbelly of the ranking, OM had a good opportunity to catch up with its direct competitors in the race for Europe. It’s also his chance: seeing others move forward in slow motion. The carrot was nice, since in the event of a victory, the Marseillais, 9th at kick-off, made a small leap into the top 7 to return to Lens’ rearview mirror. Otherwise, it was Nice, 5th, which distanced itself from its evening opponent and came within two units of Lille. And in this balance of power, no one had the last word.
OM can blame themselves
It all started badly for the Marseillais, who were showered quite early on by realistic and skillful counterattackers from Nice. Farioli’s men turned on the lights before the quarter of an hour of play thanks to Moffi, author of an opportunistic recovery to break the deadlock after a poorly controlled exit from Lopez (0-1, 13th). A goal which obviously stung the Marseillais in their pride. And it took a cannon shot from Clauss at the half-hour mark to allow Marseille to resurface (1-1, 31st). An OM team which played with 10 men for more than a half after the expulsion of Moumbagna.
The second act was just as electric, and Marseille found the resources to get back in front with a penalty transformed with authority by Aubameyang (2-1, 56th). This was without counting on a new revolt from Nice, under the leadership of Bard, author of a victorious shot from mid-distance (2-2, 72nd). The score no longer changed, despite a wild end to the match and a final opportunity from Aubameyang on a fabulous rush and a shot which hit the bar (90th + 2). OM still have a joker in this particularly exciting final sprint.
