Toulouse saved the honor of French clubs on Thursday by winning against Lask (1-0) on the second day of the Europa League.
Toulouse is the only one of the three French clubs competing, Thursday October 5, to have won on the second day of the Europa League. TFC scored its first European success against Lask (1-0) since 2009. Marseille was held in the final minutes by Brighton (2-2) while Stade Rennes lost to Villarreal (1-0) .
Happy reunion for Toulouse
Almost 14 years after its last European match at the Stadium, TFC found the European Cup in its lair. As in their previous continental meeting in the Pink City, against Partizan Belgrade (1-0), the Toulouse residents returned to victory against the Austrians of Lask (1-0). Thanks to this success, they are in second position in Group E, two points behind the leader, Liverpool, to whose field they will travel in three weeks.
Half an hour into the game, the Chilean Gabriel Suazo appeared in the heart of the area to unlock the scoreboard (1-0, 31st) and ignite an already buzzing Haut-Garonnais crowd. Since Thijs Dallinga lacked success (43rd, 69th), Toulouse had to resist the Austrian assaults until the end (55th, 60th). With a victory and a draw, the Violets are off to a good start in C3.
Marseille still suffering
The new coach of Olympique de Marseille, Gennaro Gattuso, almost succeeded in his first at the Stade Vélodrome. His team led 2-0 but ultimately had to share the points against Brighton (2-2). The fault was a penalty conceded just before the start of added time by Jonathan Clauss, a few hours after learning of his return to the French team more than a year after his last selection. Joao Pedro converted the penalty (2-2, 88th), preventing OM from signing their first victory since August 26 (2-0 against Brest, in Ligue 1).
Marseille had nevertheless entered their game well. Chancel Mbemba opened the scoring (1-0, 19th) followed 90 seconds later by Jordan Veretout (2-0, 20th). But the Phocaeans never scored the final break goal. Pascal Gross took the opportunity to reduce the gap after returning from the locker room (2-1, 55th). Before the cruel end. With two points, OM are second in Group B behind AEK Athens, who drew at home against Ajax Amsterdam (1-1).
Rennes defeated for the first time this season
The story could have been magnificent. For his return to competition, 275 days after his rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, Martin Terrier almost became a savior. But the striker, who entered in the 81st minute, missed the penalty – taken after a very long wait for verification – which would have allowed Stade Rennes to equalize at the very end of the match on the Villarreal pitch (90th+2). On the contrary, the Rouge et Noir fell for the first time this season in all competitions (1-0).
A defeat not illogical as the Bretons did not show much. Trailing following a long shot from Alexander Sorloth (1-0, 36th), they took too long to appear dangerous on Pepe Reina’s goal. Before the penalty was repelled by the Spanish goalkeeper, Ludovic Blas had already come up against him (68th) while a first penalty awarded for a foul on Arnaud Kalimuendo was finally canceled by the VAR (79th).