Finally a victory for OM in the Champions League. And what a success! After two defeats in as many matches in the competition, Igor Tudor’s men outclassed Sporting Portugal (4-1) in a closed-door Velodrome due to incidents against Frankfurt. Trailing after just 50 seconds of play, OM then fully recovered, benefiting from several largesse from the opposing goalkeeper, who was sent off in the 23rd minute.
⏱ 93′ | #OMSCP 4️⃣-1️⃣
OM sign ̀ of the season in Europe against @Sporting_CP and restarts in this group stage of @ChampionsLeaguepic.twitter.com/NaE4ztZXbL
– Olympique de Marseille (@OM_Officiel) October 4, 2022
Stuck in traffic jams, the Sporting coach arrived late at the Stade Vélodrome, thus postponing the kick-off by around fifteen minutes. But the Portuguese players were well on time on the pitch at kick-off and scored their first goal after less than a minute of play. Winger Trincao, author of a fine shot in the small net after not being bothered by Nuno Tavares, Leonardo Balerdi or Jordan Veretout sends OM back to their old demons.
OM can say thank you to the Sporting goalkeeper
Everything was then in place for a new European disaster and it took a good save from Pau Lopez in the 9th minute against Marcus Edwards to keep OM alive. OM were then helped by the opposing goalkeeper Antonio Adan who first released a harmless ball on the foot of Alexis Sanchez who saw the ball end up in the back of the net.
Not very nice, the Chilean’s goal, OM’s first in the Champions League game since… 2013 and a goal by Souleymane Diawara, however weighed very heavily. Because on a shot badly repelled by Adan, Sanchez then quickly scored a new goal, canceled for offside. On the following free kick, the Spanish goalkeeper sent a direct throw to Mattéo Guendouzi and two passes later, OM had taken the lead, Amine Harit heading in the impeccable cross of Jonathan Clauss (2-1, 16th).
Clauss out through injury
Antonio Adan then continued with a new dumpling with this rough hand outside his surface synonymous with an indisputable red card. In front of the score and 11 against 10, OM quietly drove home the point with a third goal signed Balerdi from a header from a corner (28th), just before one of the rare bad news of the evening, the injury of Clauss.
While their calendar remains extremely dense, with the reception of Ajaccio on Saturday which should allow them to consolidate their place at the top of the Ligue 1 table, OM then did not force their talent or burn too much energy. The second period was thus without history or spark, Marseille contenting themselves until the goal of Mbemba (4-1, 84th) to manage their advantage and Tudor the playing times of each other.
Badly started, the Croat’s evening therefore ended very well, with even in the last moments a proud “To Arms” launched by the handful of guests and authorized accredited above his bench.
Source: Europe1
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