Aubameyang saves OM from a new disaster

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By: Manu Tournoux

Olympique de Marseille qualified for the round of 16 of the Coupe de France by beating (0-1) Thionville, resident of N3.

Olympique de Marseille avoided yet another elimination in the Coupe de France against a very inferior club on Sunday against Thionville. On the pitch of Saint-Symphorien, in Metz, Gennaro Gattuso’s players launched their year 2024 without brilliance or promises in the game, but provided the essentials. The Phocéens won by the smallest of marks (0-1), thanks to a goal in the second period from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (62nd), launched from deep by Jordan Veretout. The Gabonese managed to anticipate the exit of the Moselle goalkeeper, Théo Junke, in what was the first real opportunity for OM in this meeting. With 8 goals and 4 assists, the former Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal and Barça player is involved in 12 goals in his last 8 matches in all competitions.

Arranged in 3-5-2, as since the end of 2023, Samuel Gigot’s teammates did not strain against the undefeated leader of his group in National 3. Bilal Nadir had a fairly anecdotal first tenure in the midfield, so that Bamo Meïté took some avoidable risks in central defense, without giving any real cold sweats to the thousand southern fans who had made the trip.

No more worried than that defensively in the absence of Chancel Mbemba, Amine Harit, Azzedine Ounahi or even Pape Gueye, who left to compete in the African Cup of Nations, the Marseillais will have to show more on the other side of the field during their next match in Ligue 1, next week, for the reception of Strasbourg.

As a reminder, Olympique de Marseille had been dried out by Annecy after having dismissed Paris Saint-Germain in the previous round. Thionville, in fact, had offered the Savoyard club at the end of the year to have the right to challenge Marseille in the 32nd final. The Eastern club will not join the list of OM losers in this competition, as Carquefou, Rodez or Andrézieux may have been in the recent past.

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