A frantic pace and a final decision on a deflected ball.
In a meeting committed from start to finish, Olympique de Marseille conceded a third straight defeat in Ligue 1 on Saturday, against RC Lens at the Stade Vélodrome (0-1).
A result that does not reassure the Olympians a few days before their meeting against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League (Wednesday).
The Sang et Or, they temporarily take second place in the championship (27 points), behind PSG (32), thanks to a goal from David Pereira da Costa (78th), his first this season.
79' (0-1)
⚽️ David Pereira da Costa opens the scoring!!!
The middle #MadeInGaillette arms a cannonball from twenty meters.
It's hit by Balerdi but the ball hits the bar before finishing at the bottom 💥
Goal to see for free on the @FreeLigue1 app 👇
#OMRCL
— Racing Club de Lens (@RCLens) October 22, 2022
Before cracking, OM nevertheless started the first act with great vigor.
In a match physiognomy where the field was already cut in two after only a few minutes, the Lensois played counterattacks, where the Marseillais accumulated the offensive phases without really going to the end of their actions.
Nuno Tavares was notably alerted three times in less than 5 minutes but his crosses only found Lensois feet or heads.
The Samba show
However, the pressure on Brice Samba's goal grew stronger as the minutes went by.
Jordan Veretout first tried his luck on a volley (26th), before Amine Harit missed the target on an open shot in the box (30th).
But the real Lensoise fear came on two actions almost in quick succession;
the first sending Alexis Sanchez to the front of Samba, just before Jonathan Clauss hit the post with a shot alone in front of the northern goalkeeper.
The biggest chance among Marseille's eight shots in the first half.
Another significant stat in the engagement, this first act resulted in 24 faults, a record this season.
The second period started at the same pace but with more enthusiasm for the Lensois this time.
Seko Fofana notably obtained several chances without however managing to find the frame.
But the rest was short-lived for the Northerners in a game at 100 an hour.
Launched at full speed in the axis, Chancel Mbemba believed to open the scoring before Brice Samba released a huge save at close range (63rd).
A small feat imitated by Pau Lopez on the other side of the field a few seconds later.
The solution for the Lensois finally came from a long shot from David Pereira da Costa deflected by Leonardo Balerdi in his goal, Pau Lopez unable to do anything on the spot.
Despite the entry of new blood, Marseille was then never able to return.
Enough to trigger a small crisis of confidence before an important meeting in the Champions League next week.
