OM-Porto: the Marseillais leave by the back door

The Marseillais had the choice: victory or shame.

After having suffered three defeats in three games, conceded seven goals and scored four shots, OM had to save honor in the Champions League at all costs.

The supporters, still deprived of Vélodrome, had recalled it with two banners: a huge “straight to the point” in the North, accompanied by this comment: “Apparently, you forgot our motto.

A provocateur "we want wolves, not goats", in the South.

Marseille was to imitate Atalanta Bergamo: last year, the Italians achieved the feat of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the European Cup after three inaugural defeats.

OM too clumsy

OM missed the meeting.

Porto defeated a Marseille too slow, too clumsy, too timid (0-2).

The Marseillais beat a sad record: that of the longest series of consecutive defeats in the modern version of the Champions League.

OM suffered a thirteenth loss in a row on Wednesday, a series that began in 2012. A figure is unlucky, already synonymous with elimination in C1.

This thirteenth defeat even makes a draft in the Europa League complicated.

Everything had not started too badly: the Marseille pressing was efficient, with an enterprising midfielder.

OM had several chances at the start of the game: a strike countered by a defender from Morgan Sanson, a shot over Boubacar Kamara, a header from Valère Germain on a free kick, nicely repelled by Agustin Marchesin.

But OM, saved for the first time by Steve Mandanda, ended up breaking down.

Stupidly.

On a corner, the OM defenders managed the feat of losing three consecutive duels: with a header against Marko Grujic, then in the six meters against Zaidu Sanusi, who was able to strike twice to score, his first attempt having been rejected. by Steve Mandanda (39th).

Sergio Oliveira doubled the penalty, after a foul of filthy idiocy from Leonardo Balerdi, tenured in place of Duje Caleta-Car (72nd).

Payet's entry didn't change anything

André Villas-Boas had made several bold choices.

A “new look” hinge, therefore, like his attack: the Portuguese technician established the young winger Luis Henrique (18) and the returning Valère Germain, instead of a Dimitri Payet short of form and a Dario Benedetto in dire straits.

Bad idea.

The Brazilian was too discreet, the former Monegasque too vague.

The entry of Dimitri Payet, in the 59th, did not change anything: the OM playmaker still cannot make the difference.

Florian Thauvin, who was playing his 250th game in the OM jersey, was in a “day without”: he often made deep calls, without ever taking his side of speed.

And when he touched the ball he was way too clumsy, missing his dribbling and controls.

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Dimitri Payet, an irregularity with serious consequences

The Marseillais came out of a long truce: 19 days without playing, due to the cancellation of OM-Nice.

Their lack of pace was glaring: the second half was played softly, like a friendly match in the heatwave of July.

The reception of Porto should have been one of the peaks of the season.

But OM have never been up to it.