Olympique de Marseille may not soon forget its European evening. The Marseille club signed its first victory of the season in the Champions League on Tuesday, October 4, by dominating Sporting Portugal (4-1) in an empty Velodrome but which one could easily imagine what the clamor would have been in an evening almost lunar.
The players of Igor Tudor had the merit of not being destabilized by the events (match behind closed doors and started late) and the opening of the Portuguese score from the first minute. As often, Chancel Mbemba and Alexis Sanchez shone on the OM side, as did Amine Harit, twirling.
Paul Lopez: 5.5/10
If Marseille was able to overthrow everything, it owes it to its Spanish goalkeeper, winner of a face-to-face, who could have offered the Lisbon 2-0 from the ninth minute. Lopez didn’t have much else to make of the game, and that’s rare enough to be highlighted in the Champions League.
Chancel Mbemba: 7/10
The former FC Porto player had ants in his legs. The defender multiplied the interesting overruns in the Portuguese camp in the first period (8th, 20th, 39th). He concludes his stubborn match in attack by signing the fourth goal, all in lucidity. And in addition, he was clean defensively. His red card at Tottenham seems well behind him.
Eric Bailly: 5/10
The least in sight of the Marseille defenders. In a match where the Lisboètes almost never came into the Marseille area, Bailly was vigilant about the rare balls in his area. An evening without forcing so. Replaced by Samuel Gigot (77th).
Leonardo Balerdi: 5.5/10
His match could hardly have started worse, being terribly passive on Trincão’s goal from the first minute. But he was able to stay in his match and catch up in a good way by signing the 3-1 goal with a furious header from a corner. Undoubtedly not unhappy with the turn of the match after the first quarter of an hour.
Jonathan Clauss: not rated
His cross for Amine Harit’s goal is the perfect illustration of the substantial added value he offers to OM, terribly deficient in the quality of passes on their wings under Jorge Sampaoli. Injured in the calf after a good first half hour and replaced by Issa Kabore (4.5/10) in the 33rd, less in sight once the intensity of the match subsided. The game has also swung almost exclusively to the left once it comes into play.
Jordan Veretout: 5/10
The French international was preferred to Valentin Rongier at kick-off. In a shadow role, he did the job, nothing more. The former AS Roma player can do better in the orientation of the game. Replaced by Valentin Rongier (62nd), when OM returned to a less ambitious three-man environment.
Matteo Guendouzi: 5.5/10
He left responsibility for the forward moves to Chancel Mbemba and compensated perfectly defensively. It was probably not his most brilliant match, but his role was oh so precious. And Marseille did not have to suffer from its lower attacking investment. He also showed a formidable precision in the transmission of the ball, not missing the slightest pass (50 out of 50).
Matteo Guendouzi ➡️ 100%
50 passes completed from 50 attempted for the midfielder in Marseille’s #UCL win over Sporting CP tonight. pic.twitter.com/79EfWn73ze
— The Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) October 4, 2022
Nuno Tavares: 6/10
As usual, the left piston multiplied the races in its lane. And he also confirmed that he had the ball, not hesitating to provoke and chain the dribbles (9) to put pressure on Sporting’s rearguard. He still lacks a little more accuracy in some of his decisions.
Cengiz Under: 5/10
He suffered from the comparison in relation to the chemistry of the left lane between his counterpart Amine Harit and Nuno Tavares. The Turk lacked percussion, even if OM’s game was not very concentrated in his sector. Replaced by Pape Gueye (62nd), who played the distribution tower in the middle, without being dangerous.
Alexis Sanchez: 6.5/10
The Chilean, hyperactive as always, was rewarded for his efforts and his many runs at the start of the match by signing Marseille’s first goal in C1 this season on a blocked ball. His desire was the real switch in the Marseille game. Very voluntary and too rarely served, Sanchez has also too often been undisciplined in his positioning. Exhausted, he misses the 5-1 despite a wide open goal.
4 – Alexis Sanchez has found the fault for 4 different clubs in the Champions League (Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter and Marseille), only Zlatan Ibrahimovic (6) and Hernan Crespo (5) having done better in the history of the competition. Chameleon. #OMSCP pic.twitter.com/6MCFCpTg8W
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 4, 2022
Amine Harit: 7/10
His first percussion (5th) set the tone. Twirling, always available, the Moroccan shone on the Marseille attack in the first half. Rewarded with a goal on a perfect call, and an assist from a corner. His late return to La Canebière this summer looks more and more like a very good idea. Replaced by Gerson (77th).