For the first time Jean-Louis Gasset was on the bench, OM qualified for the round of 16 of the Europa League at the expense of Shakhtar Donetsk this Thursday (3-1).
The Vélodrome was full for the occasion, enthusiastic but ready to draw in the event of another disappointment. For the first of Gasset in charge – three days after the departure of Gattuso – with the expected return of the 3-5-2 demanded by the players themselves, OM were able to offer themselves a reprieve from the crisis this Thursday evening by validating his ticket for the round of 16 of the Europa League (3-1).
Nothing was easy that said for the Marseillais, quickly crushed by a penalty conceded by Clauss and transformed by Sudakov (0-1, 12e). Now top scorer in the Europa League with 31 goals on the clock, Aubameyang fortunately had the good idea to quickly equalize, well served by Harit (1-1, 23e). And OM has therefore justified its rank as favorite.
A first victory since January 7
Lacking pace in official competitions in recent weeks, Shakhtar slowed down as the minutes passed, only cracking as the final quarter of an hour approached. Coming into play a few minutes earlier, Sarr liberated the stadium with an unstoppable recovery (2-1, 74e). Then Kondogbia definitively relieved the Olympians in the process, by foxing the surfaces and from a tight angle (3-1, 81e).
Lens, Rennes and Toulouse fell this Thursday evening – against Fribourg, AC Milan and Benfica respectively – OM will be the only French representative in the round of 16 of the Europa League. With a next opponent who will be known from Friday noon. In the meantime, the Phocaeans can enjoy this favorable outcome even though success had eluded them for seven matches and their qualification for the round of 16 of the Coupe de France to the detriment of Thionville on January 7.
