Jorge Sampaoli has finally stopped pacing the sideline.
The OM coach even heaved a sigh of relief.
His team won (2-0) against Dijon, the perfect opponent.
The one who always has the little weakness that is needed, when it is needed, to help his rival of the day.
This Sunday evening, it was Marseille at the Orange Vélodrome.
A rather gloomy Olympic, crushed in Nice (3-0) before the international break, which seeks to find a flame long vanished.
In an empty stadium, the sadness stretches even more.
She was all the more present as a tribute was paid to former President Pape Diouf, who died of Covid-19 on March 31, 2020 in Senegal.
Banners saluted his memory, virtual applause echoed for a minute.
On the lawn too, the actors seemed virtual at times.
Throughout the first period, the Whites looked pale while the fluorescent yellow of the Dijon jerseys, reminiscent of the color of a questionable mustard, turned out to be more dazzling than spicy.
Nothing to eat, except one or two harmless strikes.
The silence of this enclosure very far from its prime time especially encourages drowsiness as half-time approaches.
All it takes is a corner to awaken the enthusiasm of the Olympic presidential box.
The head of the Argentinian Balerdi rises above all the others and finds the framework smooth (1-0, 45th + 1).
"The sprint is on"
On returning from the locker room, the game resumes as it started: without rhythm, without soul.
Dijon people playing without a ball, Marseillais without a solution.
A soporific match.
Dimitri Payet, too slow in his movements, did not succeed in breaking through the wall.
And yet, twice, he found himself alone against Saturnin Allagbé.
The first, he unscrews on his left shot at the penalty spot (53rd).
The second he strikes from the right open field at the entrance to the area and finds ... the goalkeeper.
It takes a header from Alvaro Gonzalez deflected by a Dijon knee to close the proceedings (2-0, 79th).
There are evenings like that when you have to be content with little.
There are seasons like this too when it's best not to dream too hard.
This is the case of this OM, needy and sad, who had the merit of winning against a team which scored its last point in Ligue 1 on January 24 by pulling a draw against Strasbourg (1-1).
“We have a lot of things to work on, but we did the essentials, admits Dimitri Payet.
The goal is Europe.
The sprint is on.
"
The match sheet
Marseille-Dijon 2-0 (half-time: 1-0).
At the Orange Vélodrome stadium.
Referee:
R. Buquet.
Goals:
Balerdi (45th + 1), Alvaro Gonzalez (79th).
Warnings:
Marseille: Alvaro Gonzalez (32nd), Gueye (73rd);
Dijon: Konate (10th), Benzia (24th), Ngonda (38th), Coulibaly (78th).
Marseille:
Mandanda (cap.) - Balerdi, Lirola, H. Sakai, Alvaro Gonzalez, Henrique (Cuisance, 68th) - Thauvin, Kamara, Gueye - Payet (Khaoui, 90th + 1), Milik (Benedetto, 82nd).
Entr.
:
Jorge Sampaoli.
Dijon:
Allagbe - Boey, Coulibaly, Lautoa, Ecuele Manga (cap.), Ngonda (Chalá, 83rd), Marie - Celina (Zagre, 83rd), Benzia (Sammaritano, 64th) - Konate (Dobre, 65th), Baldé (Diop , 90th + 2).
Entr.
:
David Linarès.
