OM sign their first victory and relaunch in the Champions League

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The Phocaeans have stopped the infernal spiral. After two defeats in a row, OM won against Sporting Portugal for their third Champions League group match (4-1) on Tuesday 4 October. Still worn by Alexis Sanchez, among others, the Marseillais won their first success on the European scene this season, also their first victory in C1 since December 1, 2020.

OM finally raise their heads. With their backs to the wall after their two defeats against Tottenham and Frankfurt, the Olympians finally found their rhythm and did not miss the opportunity to sink Sporting Portugal, hitherto unbeaten and solid leader of group D. an empty Vélodrome stadium, behind closed doors after the excesses against Frankfurt, and the opener conceded in the first seconds of play, they were able to react and reverse the situation in their favor.

They especially benefited from a fact of the game that changed everything, the descent into hell of the Sporting Portugal goalkeeper. Antonio Adan, the most experienced player in the Portuguese eleven at the start of the Champions League, first saw his clearance blocked by Alexis Sanchez to sign the Marseille equalizer (13th). Undermined by his error, he did not place himself well and could not pounce on Amine Harit’s second goal, served by a very good cross from Jonathan Clauss, barely four minutes later (17th).

He ended his nightmare with a last grotesque intervention by attempting an incomprehensible exit and deliberately deflecting the ball with his hand outside his area, a gesture sanctioned with a direct red card (23rd). His replacement Franco Israel, who was playing his first game in the Lisbon jersey at 22, did not even have time to adjust and had to give in on Balerdi’s third Marseille goal, after a late exit (28th). Half an hour into the game, OM were leading by two lengths and only had to manage their lead.

A job that the men of Igor Tudor carried out with application, in a second period necessarily less intense. But they continued to attack, pushed by a great night Alexis Sanchez and a very inspired Amine Harit. They were rewarded at the very end of the match, with Chancel Mbemba’s fourth goal (86th). The addition could even have been even heavier if Sanchez had had a little more success alone against Israel (87th).

The scenario was not yet written when Sporting opened the scoring after 53 seconds of play, after a tense start to the match, marked by a delayed kick-off and a rant from Tudor in the bays of the Vélodrome. against the management of this setback. But, weighed down by the mistakes of their goalkeepers and outnumbered for an hour, the Portuguese could not offer great opposition. Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim tried everything for everything by making his four remaining changes after returning from the locker room, without effect.

Thanks to this long-awaited success, the Marseillais garnered their first points in this European campaign. They are only one step behind Frankfurt and Tottenham, who failed to decide (0-0). They also come back to within three points of their evening opponent. They will meet them next week, in Lisbon, for their fourth group match.


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