One man, four goals, and Olympique de Marseille on the throne of Ligue 1. The Vélodrome experienced a crazy evening this Saturday, witnessing the recital of a Mason Greenwood in a state of absolute grace. Author of a historic quadruple, the English striker was the great architect of a decisive victory (6-2) against a courageous but unfortunate team from Le Havre. A success which, taking advantage of PSG's misstep, propelled OM to first place in the championship. Barely a month ago, the club was in crisis. Today, he looks down on all of France's football world.
The gambling fact that changed everything
However, the evening had started with an unexpected cold shower. On one of their first forays, Le Havre, through Kechta, came to freeze a confident Vélodrome (24th). The specter of a trap match began to loom. But destiny, or perhaps the football gods who definitely seem to be smiling on OM at the moment, changed over a major and controversial fact of play: a handball from Gautier Lloris, punished with a penalty and a red card (35th). A double penalty, perhaps severe, but which completely changed the face of a match that had gone poorly up until then.
The Vélodrome has its new hero: Greenwood!
The Greenwood show, in the footsteps of Papin
Mason Greenwood was quick to transform the decision and put the two teams back on an equal footing. It was the beginning of his personal show, his masterclass. In numerical superiority, facing an overwhelmed opponent, OM played their football after the break. And his English striker, insatiable and touched by grace, made the powder speak. Served by Paixão, he first gave his team the advantage with a clinical strike (67th). Then, in the space of ten crazy minutes, he added two other goals, on offerings from the young entrant Robinio Vaz then from Benjamin Pavard (76th). Four goals. A quadruplet. A performance that the Vélodrome had not seen since a certain Jean-Pierre Papin, in January 1991. The Englishman, who came out to a huge ovation, had just entered the club's legend.
When a whole collective enjoys
If Greenwood was the hero, the celebration was total and collective. Because even with numerical superiority, we had to do the work, and OM did it seriously and diligently. The entrants shone, like the young and dynamic Robinio Vaz, author of a goal (88th) on a serve from an altruistic Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and a decisive pass. Bilal Nadir, another entrant, offered the sixth and final goal to Michael Murillo in added time, concluding a successful collective performance where everyone participated in this offensive festival.
The bench also takes part in the party
This orgy of goals in the second half testifies to the strength and depth of this Marseille squad. Roberto De Zerbi can rub his hands: his choices are paying off, the competition is healthy and pulls the whole group to the top. Even Aubameyang, deprived of goals this evening, turns into a decisive passer, proof of an impeccable state of mind. Everyone is involved, everyone is decisive.
OM leader, what now?
OM are therefore at the top of Ligue 1, driven by incredible dynamics and a world-class scorer. This large victory is the ideal preparation before the European trip to Lisbon. If coach Roberto De Zerbi logically seeks to temper the ambient euphoria, it is difficult not to get excited. This OM, spectacular, efficient and united, proved that they would have to be reckoned with for the title. Le Havre, despite its courage and a nice goal from Touré for the honor, may have fallen on the future champion of France.
