Champions League: OM reaches its limits against City (0-3)

The silence of the Velodrome made them dizzy.

You could almost hear the teeth of the Marseillais chattering with fear, in a stadium transformed into a sinister cathedral.

OM faced Manchester City with the ball in the stomach and were heavily punished (0-3).

“We must do better, reacts hot Florian Thauvin on RMC Sports.

It's been seven years since we took part in this competition.

We have to learn from these matches to progress.

It's another level, you have to be honest.

"

Valentin Rongier, unrecognizable this season, made a fatal error in the 18th minute.

Under pressure, the former Nantes driver sent a villainous back pass intended for Duje Caleta-Car… It actually put Kevin De Bruyne into orbit, who served the very lively Ferran Torres.

Panicked by the Mancunian waves that had been sweeping over his penalty area since kick-off, Rongier did not see that his partner Nemanja Radonjic was perfectly demarcated, fifteen meters in front of him.

Awkward passes, timid raises

An error ultimately not surprising: the Marseillais approached this match as an amateur team that would face PSG in the 32nd of the Coupe de France.

The ball burned their feet, the passes were clumsy, the raises timid.

Learning C1 is painful.

Only Steve Mandanda (43 games) and Florian Thauvin (8) already have C1 experience.

The nine other holders are playing their first “big” European Cup.

The Marseillais had discovered the European realism against the Greeks of Olympiakos, scorers in added time.

This Tuesday, they found that there was not a gap but a gulf between them and the Citizens.

André Villas-Boas had opted for a defense with five, like Leicester and Lyon, the last two teams to have beaten Manchester City in competition.

But the Marseille side have very little overwhelmed: the team has often played curled up in its half of the field.

The counterattacks and deep calls announced by the Portuguese coach have been far too rare.

It was not until the 42nd minute to see OM's first strike on target - a soft shot from Nemanja Radonjic for which City goalkeeper Ederson didn't even have to dive.

Get back to work without delay

The start of the second half was a little more balanced, with better Marseille pressing.

But OM was not very dangerous.

Florian Thauvin triggered a heavy long shot in the 54th, deflected by Ederson on his post.

Jordan Amavi overflowed well in the 66th, but his cross did not find a taker.

The Mancunians then finished OM, with a lot of opportunism: Phil Foden overflowed and centered, Raheem Sterling offered a caviar to Ilkay Gündogan, alone at six meters (76th).

The same Sterling then healed his statistics by scoring his fifth goal in nine games, on a serve from the inevitable Kevin de Bruyne.

This demonstration by Pep Guardiola's players marks OM's eleventh consecutive defeat in the Champions League.

Marseille is dangerously approaching the record of Anderlecht, who had chained twelve defeats between 2003 and 2005. The next match, next Tuesday in Porto, will be decisive to continue dreaming of a qualification, at least for the knockout stages of the League Europa.

And to avoid becoming a European “serial loser”.

“Nothing is done, wants to believe, however, Michaël Cuisance, the Marseille midfielder.

In football you are never immune to anything.

You have to get back to work and move on ”.