In the midst of a crisis, the Marseillais won a draw (3-3) against Ajax on Thursday, and saved their honor after a dark week in the Marseille city.
A parade of goals. Three French clubs were in the running for the first day of the Europa League, Thursday September 21. We will remember the combativeness of the Marseillais who were stuck in an internal crisis but who brought home a draw from Amsterdam (3-3) and the determination of the Rennes at home (3-0). Faced with Union Saint-Gilloise, Toulouse were not as impressive (1-1), with the exception of their goalkeeper, a new nugget to watch closely.
Marseille breathes and shows its character
Despite the storm, the Phocaeans stayed the course and earned a draw (3-3) for their first Europa League match. Entangled in an internal crisis, the Marseillais traveled to Amsterdam (Netherlands) without their coach Marcelino, to face Ajax. Trailing 2-0 after twenty minutes of play (Carlos Borges 9th, Steven Berghuis 20th), the Marseillais multiplied their strikes and ended up finding the target. Jonathan Clauss sounded the revolt (23rd), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang then extinguished the atmosphere at the Johan Cruyff Arena (38th).
Returning from the locker room, the Lancers regained the advantage (52nd) thanks to a ball from Kenneth Taylor placed between the legs of a helpless Pau Lopez. After a barren half-hour, Aubameyang brought OM back to life with a heavy winning strike, for a draw which gave Marseillais some breathing room.
Rennes efficient in and out of the area
The Rennes did not hang around. Stade Rennes got off to a perfect start to its sixth European campaign by dominating (3-0) Maccabi Haifa at Roazhon Park. Ludovic Blas, who came from FC Nantes this summer, opened the scoring in the first minute with a powerful strike from around twenty meters. Arthur Theate tried his luck from 25 meters but his cross shot crashed onto the left post of Itamar Nitzan (24th). Seven minutes later, Adrien Truffert scored the second goal with a volley, also from outside the area.
Returning from the locker room, Bruno Genesio’s men established their superiority and scored a third goal against the Israelis (56th). A corner taken by the former Lensois, Benjamin Bourigeaud, found the head of Bertug Yildirim. The young Turk, who arrived this summer, will remember his very first European match played at the age of 21, just after a prolific week in the selection (2 goals).
Fourteen years later, Toulouse returns on tiptoe
A timid return for Toulouse FC, who reported a draw (1-1) from their trip to Belgium, for their first Europa League match, against Union Saint-Gilloise. Carried by a great Guillaume Remains in the goals, the Toulouse residents applied themselves but were pressed by the Belgians. The penalty obtained by Frank Magri and transformed by Thijs Dallinga (45th +3) allowed them to return to the locker room calmly.
But in the second half, they cracked and allowed the formidable Spanish player, Cameron Puertas, to express himself, decisive passer for Mohamed Amoura (69th). Caught on the wrong foot, Guillaume Restes was unable to do anything but put in a huge performance for his first Europa League match at 18 years, 6 months and 10 days.