Champions League: OM in Porto to stay alive after a catastrophic start

The Champions League has barely started when it could already end for Olympique de Marseille.

Sad but implacable observation, oh so revealing of a catastrophic start to the C1 campaign for the men of André Villas-Boas.

After seven years of absence in the most beautiful of European competitions, the Marseille club has failed in great width.

Two games, two defeats, zero goals scored, four conceded… The picture is painful to see and OM have never done so little honor to their famous historical motto: "Straight to the goal".

The trip to FC Porto on Tuesday evening (9 p.m., RMC Sport, Téléfoot) already looks like the last chance operation for a club ranked fifth in Ligue 1 but unable to raise its level of play in midweek.

As if the march seemed too high, the players too limited and the workforce far too poorly thought out by the big bosses to do credit to French football in Europe.

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The mission is clear, this Tuesday evening, for the partners of Steve Mandanda, one of the few to hold his rank in the Olympian group.

A victory and the chances of qualifying in the round of 16, the declared objective, would remain alive, any other result would condemn Marseille to approach the rest of the competition without ambition.

Worse, a new defeat, after the very bland copies made against Olympiakos (1-0) and Manchester City (0-3), would be synonymous with a sad record with twelve consecutive losses in C1.

"This is the last chance match"

Florian Thauvin

The only French club to win the Champions League in 1993, Marseille does not want to enter history through the wrong door at all.

Because yes, seven years ago, during its last Champions League campaign, OM had already achieved the feat of concluding their group stage in last place with six defeats on the clock and a zero in a pool made up of Arsenal, Dortmund and Napoli.

Without predicting the worst, the Marseille clan therefore knows they have to leave Porto with a full suitcase.

"This is the last chance match", recognizes the world champion Florian Thauvin, eagerly awaited in his role as leader.

One question remains: does the dolphin of Paris SG last season in Ligue 1 have the capacity to (finally) be up to the task?

Doubts remain and the recent tasteless outings against an average Olympiakos and a Manchester City light years away from its true level, have not reassured anyone about the ability of the Marseillais to meet expectations.

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Villas-Boas ironically:" Unfortunately OM has no money to bring in Guardiola "

To reassure Marseille supporters, it is not the great FC Porto that will appear on the lawn of the Estádio do Dragão.

Already beaten twice in the league, the double European champion (1987-2004), winner of Olympiakos (2-0) on the second day of C1, is not an insurmountable test.

André Villas-Boas, former member of the house and happy to find his club at heart, sees it as an “advantage” to know his evening opponent perfectly.

Enough to finally achieve success and stop the downward spiral which seems to further erode the confidence of its troops?

To succeed in its mission, OM must rely on its executives, like a Dimitri Payet far too far from his optimal physical condition or a Dario Benedetto still blocked at zero goals this season.

But also on his coach, whose irritation of the moment suggests a certain annoyance in the face of criticism.

Against Manchester City, "AVB" was wrong in his game plan and his defense to five elements too wait-and-see.

There is still time to make a difference.

From this Tuesday evening in Portugal.

Afterwards, it will be (already) too late.

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