DECRYPTION – At the end of the defeat in the controversy of Olympique de Marseille on Wednesday evening against Atalanta Bergamo (0-1), on behalf of the 4th day of the Champions League, discover what pleased… and displeased the editorial staff of the Figaro.
TOPS
Geronimo Rulli, pillar of the Canebière
Another XXL performance for the Argentinian goalkeeper of OM. Even if he was unable to prevent his team’s defeat on Wednesday evening against Atalanta (0-1), the last Marseille rampart stood out at the start of the match, and in a good way. First at fault on a penalty whistled (generously) in favor of the Dea, the OM goalkeeper did himself justice by diverting the shot in spectacular fashion. The Marseillais on whom we can (always) count.
Also read Champions League: between anger and controversy, OM loses again and gets bogged down
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Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg struggled
High volume of play once again for the boss of the Marseille midfield: 90% of successful passes, lots of projections and goal actions, 9 balls recovered… The Dane delivered a solid performance. Far too lonely today to hope for better.
Mason Greenwood too
Like his teammate and captain Höjbjerg, the English offensive player from OM tried everything, especially in the last minutes, but came up against the Bergamo defense or goalkeeper. Two shots on target out of four for the Marseille right winger, who was restless and impactful on his wing.
Best for Ademola Lookman…
Placarded since the start of the season by his new coach Ivan Juric, the Atalanta star has gone through all the emotions. While he thought he would open the score shortly after the hour mark (69th) – ultimately refused for an offside at the start of the action – the Nigerian striker was replaced… a few minutes later.
Also read: OM virtually eliminated, PSG in the Top 5, AS Monaco moving up…. The ranking after the 4th day of the Champions League
FLOPS
… before completely twisting
A decision which had the gift of provoking the anger of the number 11, all followed by a heated altercation between the coach and his player, verbal and physical, in front of everyone. A surreal scene which has no place on a football field and even less in the Champions League. Staggering.
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Igor Paixão did not exist
Were they really on the lawn? It begs the question… Only one shot on target for the first – hungry – and 14 balls lost along the way. The Gabonese was stifled by the rough Bergamo rearguard. The second? Not a single shot in 72 minutes. Replaced by the young Robinio Vaz (18 years old), who, in 20 minutes, did more than the Brazilian in more than an hour… OM’s top scorer this season in C1, Paixão – who “surfed” on the momentum of his first convincing outings – appears (already) to be running out of steam. These three goals in the Champions League this season appear more to be strokes of brilliance than real know-how. Be careful not to fall too quickly, too hard, from your cloud…
Also read OM-Atalanta: penalty refused and goal in the process… In video, the crazy action which angered the Marseillais
The aberrant refereeing at the end of the match and the terrible performance of OM
Punished following an action which will remain (bitterly) in the annals, marked by the involuntary hand of the Bergamasque Éderson in his own area, the Marseillais – weighed down by this action where they all legitimately thought they would inherit a penalty – were chastised by the main referee, who did not even take the trouble to check the sequence with the VAR. An improbable decision, which got the better of the Phocaeans and the nerves of coach Roberto De Zerbi, as well as managers Pablo Longoria and Mehdi Benatia. These deniers will complain and cry scandal – which is partially true and justified -, but the truth also lies (and above all) in the fact that their team delivered a non-match, a real purge, without the slightest flavor. A performance as insipid as it is worrying, which once again highlights the current ills of the Phocaeans: players who already seem “burned”, a playing system which has limits and a state of mind, this evening, which is simply exasperating. Only one victory in the last five matches: OM is going through a period of doubt, seeing its momentum broken and giving the impression, for the umpteenth time, of a project that is as attractive as it is fragile, even misleading.