Since the start of the season, Ligue 1 has twisted its reputation and has not been entitled to much 0-0. So much the better. But bad luck, it is with this frustrating score that the most watched Ligue 1 match in the world, the OM-PSG Classic, ended the 10th day. Blame it on the awkwardness of the Marseillais (15 strikes, one on target), the apathy of the Parisian stars, but also the VAR which canceled two goals before distributing a red. At the time of the assessment, it is indeed the small screen of video assistance to the refereeing that we saw the most during this OM-PSG. And for once, without creating controversy.
Act I: goal denied for PSG
We play the thirteenth minute on the lawn of the Vélodrome when the VAR enters the scene. After a good start to the Marseille match, PSG is gradually putting its hand on the meeting. As often in the Classics, the spark comes from Angel Di Maria who serves Neymar in the box. The Brazilian crosses hard towards Kylian Mbappé, but it’s Luan Peres who pushes the ball into his own net. PSG thinks to open the scoring on this twist of fate. The Velodrome goes out, briefly.
But there will be no second home goal of the season for the Brazilian defender of Olympique de Marseille. After video refereeing intervened, Neymar was narrowly signaled out of play on Di Maria’s delicious serve. Referee Benoît Bastien cancels the goal, and the Vélodrome exults as if OM had just scored. More than an arbitration decision, the VAR has just launched the Marseille match.
Act II: Milik and the Velodrome rejoice
Finally entered its match, Olympique de Marseille thinks to find the fault in the nineteenth minute on a school action. On the middle line, Boubacar Kamara pierced the Parisian block and found Pol Lirola in depth. In his right lane, the Spanish side swallows space before addressing a millimeter center towards Milik, alone in the middle of five Parisians, in full surface. For a striker of the caliber of the Pole, it is an offering.
In a flash, Milik connects control, strike, and goal. But once again, Benoît Bastien is called by the video bus. Like Neymar a few minutes earlier, it is the centralizer, Lirola, who is in an offside position for a few centimeters. After two minutes in seventh heaven, OM is back on Earth.
Act III: Hakimi sees red
In a somewhat timid start to the second period, the VAR came out of the closet a third and last time for a decision that could change the game. No offside or canceled goal this time, but a red card for Achraf Hakimi. The giant screens show 55 minutes of play when Cengiz Ünder tumbles at full speed in the Parisian camp. To his right, Milik waits for the leather, but the Turk can also go alone. He seems to choose this option when Hakimi attempts a desperate comeback. Benoît Bastien first whistles in favor of the Parisian.
2 – Marseille failed to win in 2 of the last 7 Ligue 1 matches in which their opponent got a red card when the score was 0-0, but it was each time against Paris on October 6 2013 (1-2) and tonight (0-0). Failure. #OMPSG pic.twitter.com/WYc4RM5sW2
– OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 24, 2021
But from the first slow motion, we understand that the fault is in favor of the Marseillais. The question then drifts on the precise place of the attachment, which occurs near the surface. Penalty or free kick?
Rightly, Benoît Bastien and the VAR indicate that the collision took place outside the surface. But the intervention of the VAR also gives birth to a logical red card for the Moroccan, in the position of last defender. There are 35 minutes to go and PSG are ten. But this expulsion will have no impact on the end of the match. Marseille and Paris parted back to back, good enemies.