Until the end, this duel between Mediterranean clubs will have been disputed, Sunday March 20, at the Vélodrome. But it is OM who leave with the three points against OGC Nice (2-1), at the end of the 29th day of Ligue 1.
Clearly superior in the first half and rewarded with a goal from the penalty spot by the Polish Arkadiusz Milik, the Olympians turned their backs in the second half. A goal from Cédric Bakambu at the end of the game sealed the success of the Marseillais, even if the reduction of the score of Mario Lemina for the Aiglons at the very end of the game gave the Marseille supporters cold sweats.
Jorge Sampaoli’s men took advantage of this success to regain the position of PSG runner-up stolen by Rennes earlier in the afternoon after his card against Metz (6-1).
⇒ Relive Marseille’s victory against Nice
⏱ 90′ | #OMOGCN 2️⃣-1️⃣
END OF THE MATCH!
Our Olympians emerge victorious from this clash thanks to achievements of @arekmilik9 and @Bakambu17
GO OM ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Bqdtz544Nd
– Olympique de Marseille (@OM_Officiel) March 20, 2022
Christophe Galtier will have to wait to sign his 200th victory in Ligue 1. Apathetic and without ideas in the first period, the Aiglons may have some regrets regarding their match against neighboring Marseille. Especially since paradoxically, it was especially in the second period that Nice had the opportunity to come back and even take the lead.
Because as soon as they returned from the locker room, the Gym started a high pressing which was almost rewarded in the 47th minute, but Andy Delort’s goal was disallowed for offside. Then it was Calvin Stengs who tried but Pau Lopez was able to highlight (60th). The Spanish goalkeeper then discouraged Delort on a face to face (71st) before seeing the number 7 Nice see his shot between the legs of William Saliba fail a few centimeters from the post seven minutes later (77th).
Mario Lemina’s goal (2-1, 90th+2), just after Cédric Bakambu’s break goal, will come too late for the Aiglons, who see their evening opponent regain a three-point lead in the standings.
The Velodrome has bubbled up again. And that counts in view of the sometimes poor last performances of Jorge Sampaoli’s men in their lair. While OM had won only two of their last nine home games (four draws, three defeats), Dimitri Payet’s teammates got back on track against Nice.
Dominating in the first period, completing the first act with nearly 64% possession of the ball, the Marseillais did not go far from opening the scoring on a strike from their captain in the 39th minute, but it did not than familiarize yourself with Walter Benitez’s skylight. Five minutes later, however, on a magnificent combination between Payet and Cengiz Ünder, the Phocaeans were awarded a logical penalty for a foul by Jean-Clair Todibo on the Turk. An offering that Arkadiusz Milik was able to take advantage of (1-0, 45th).
Much more cautious in the second act, the Olympians pushed back their block to try to take the Gym’s defense on the counterattack. And they succeeded at the end of the second period with a perfect cross from Gerson for Cédric Bakambu, whose header left no chance for Benitez (2-0, 89th).
OM thus regain second position in the standings, behind PSG – still 12 points ahead – but with a one-point lead over Rennes. A point that counts, nine days before the end of this 2021-2022 season.