Marseille struggles, even loses its certainties, but has never been so close to a great European happiness. The Marseille club could already be assured of a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League, Wednesday, October 26, in the event of success on the lawn of Eintracht Frankfurt, combined with that of Tottenham against Sporting at the same time. . An almost unexpected prospect for the formation of Igor Tudor, who had lost his first two matches of the group stage.
And, paradoxically, it was when the situation changed on the European scene that it chained poor performances in Ligue 1. To the point of wondering where OM are located. Is he under-rev compared to his real potential or, on the contrary, was he over-rev at the start of the season?
In Germany, Marseille could sign their third success in a row in Europe and equal their diametrically opposed series in the league, since the Marseille club remains on three inglorious defeats in Ligue 1. Beaten at home by promoted Ajaccio (1-2), then by the Parisian rival in the Classic (0-1) and once again at home, this time against a direct competitor, Lens (0-1), he fell to 5th place in the standings. “This is probably our best game of the season“Yet assured Tudor on Saturday, at the microphone of Canal +, after the defeat against the Northerners.
After signing the best start to the season in its history in the league, Marseille skated against three very different opponents. “The period is more complicated in terms of accounting, but in terms of content, it’s very positive so we have to rely on thatclaimed captain Valentin Rongier on Tuesday at a press conference. The trust is still there.“
️ Igor Tudor: “Today the team that deserved to win was OM”#OMRCL pic.twitter.com/oeQ0CdNr9M
– CANAL+ Foot (@CanalplusFoot) October 22, 2022
Winner of six of their first seven matches in Ligue 1 with a spirited attack (2.1 goals on average) and collective solidity, OM have since become a sterile and predictable machine, in great difficulty when it comes to adapting . Marseille remains in control of the ball and does not collapse, with only one defeat of more than one goal this season, against Tottenham at the start of the C1 campaign (2-0).
But without a lasting offensive solution behind high and incessant pressing, Alexis Sanchez’s teammates are showing themselves to be too little dangerous. In their last five Ligue 1 matches, they have only scored one goal on placed action (constructed and in the course of play), far too few for a top contender. “We have qualities, a strong team, strong defensively and which puts intensity. We have no particular problem with the finishtempered Valentin Rongier on Tuesday. We have a lack of success, but the most worrying thing would be not to obtain situations. This is not the case. We must continue.“
The system with three offensive players, a point and two supports, leaves behind creators like Dimitri Payet, or Gerson, who no longer hides his annoyance. “We’re going to look elsewhere. It’s inevitablehis father and agent, Marcao, told L’Equipe on Monday. This is a very problematic situation. How can a player who is in full possession of his skills be left out overnight, with no chance to show his football? It’s incomprehensible. We are really sad because this coach prevents us from dreaming of a place in the group for the World Cup with Brazil.“The credit that Tudor has earned since the start of the season is under threat.
But it’s as if OM entered a parallel dimension, once on the continental scene. For several weeks, these evils no longer exist. The Marseillais remain on two convincing successes against Sporting, who had previously won their first two matches. Winners in the first leg (4-1), the Marseillais then confirmed in Portugal (2-0), showing an ability to take control of an important meeting, then a certain serenity.
OM are among the cleanest construction teams (88.3% – 6th of the 32 teams) and those who hold the ball the most (59% – 7th). This team has also attempted as many shots as PSG and their Messi-Neymar-Mbappé trio. It is an Olympique de Marseille much more Doctor Jekill than Mister Hyde who treads European lawns if we are interested in statistics.
But it must be admitted that it is also a slightly varnished OM which presents itself in a favorable ballot against Frankfurt, last in the group, well helped by a Sporting which scuttled itself on the outward and return journeys, leaving the Phocaeans on the power play for 140 of the 180 minutes of two games. Marseille’s intensity in recovering the ball had something to do with it.
It will take at least as much against Eintracht on Wednesday, in conditions which will certainly be less favorable, against a German formation which had copiously dominated the course of the match, in addition to winning at the Vélodrome (1-0). More than a crucial match for the rest of the season for OM, the trip to Frankfurt will allow us to know a little more about the level of this paradoxical team.