A saving goal! On December 6, 2011, facing Borussia Dortmund on the last day of the group stage of the Champions League, Mathieu Valbuena saved Olympique de Marseille. By scoring a superb goal following a good sequence, he gave victory to OM, allowing him to reach the knockout stages of the C1. The situation was badly embarked, however.
A turnaround
The meeting had started badly for Didier Deschamps' men who had quickly conceded two goals, thus being provisionally eliminated. Jakub Błaszczykowski opened the scoring (23rd) before Mats Hummels worsened the score from the penalty spot (32nd). Fortunately for the Marseillais, on one of their rare occasions, Loïc Rémy, well served by Morgan Amalfitano, had reduced the score of the head just before the break. In the second half, OM then pushed to seek equalization. In the 85th minute, on a corner from the right, André Ayew had tied the two teams with a furious head. Despite this achievement, Marseille was still eliminated. The Canebière club had to win the meeting. It was at this point, in the last minutes of the game, that Mathieu Valbuena came on the scene.
A nice kick
In the wake of equalization, the Marseille playmaker took matters into his own hands. Served on the left side, practically on the sideline, it gets rid, thanks to a small external hook, of a first German player. The Frenchman continues his breakthrough, eliminates Gündogan with a magnificent feint and returns to the surface. As Hummels appears in front of him, he strikes a shot with the right foot. His attempt is perfect. It is powerful and is housed in the opposite window. Weidenfeller; beaten, can only touch the ball. The Marseillais exult and throw themselves on the scorer to congratulate him. They know he just gave them the victory ... and the qualification!
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