A grilled cartridge. Comfortable dolphin of Paris Saint-Germain before the 25th day of Ligue 1, OM saw a good part of their lead over the competition fly away on Sunday February 20. The Marseille team lost against the promoted Clermont (0-2), in their den, and now only have a small point ahead of the third, Nice, who won against Angers earlier in the day (1-0).
Jorge Sampaoli’s players did not materialize their domination (18 shots to 4, 66% possession) against a well organized and above all much more realistic team. The Clermontois only needed one chance at the start of the game to take the lead and never be caught again. They opened the scoring on a counter-attack, with a ball set back by Akim Zedadka, then catapulted from outside the area by Mohamed Bayo, however embarrassed by his teammate Elbasan Rashani (13th).
The Guinean striker, who had not planted in Ligue 1 since December 12, scored his tenth goal in the top flight this season. And he was not the only one to participate in the celebration since Jim Allevinah took charge of the 2-0 at the end of the match, with a header from a corner at the far post (84th). Thus, Clermont will be able to thank his two attackers who have returned from CAN, but we must not forget the performance of his goalkeeper Ouparine Djoco.
1984 – Marseille loses by at least 2 goals at home against a promoted in Ligue 1 for the first time since August 31, 1984 against RC Paris (also 0-2). Stop. #OMCF63 pic.twitter.com/6ndV5M4o4s
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) February 20, 2022
The latter was the author of two difficult saves against Dimitri Payet (38th), then at close range in front of Valentin Rongier (56th). And it is partly thanks to him that Clermont Foot gives itself some air by distancing itself from the wagon of the teams most concerned by the fight to maintain it. Fifteenth, the players of Pascal Gastien are now five steps ahead of the sixteenth, Saint-Etienne.
For Marseille, it is a notable setback. OM had not remained silent since November 7 against Metz (0-0). It’s the end of a series of 18 games in all competitions with at least one goal scored. Losing at home is not the best way to prepare for two trips in less than seven days, first 4000 km from La Canebière for the return play-off against Qarabag in the Europa League Conference (Thursday February 24), then at Troyes in Ligue 1 (Sunday 27 February).