This Saturday evening, before returning to the Champions League against Frankfurt in Germany, Olympique de Marseille hosted Racing Club de Lens at the Orange Vélodrome. It was an important meeting. On the one hand because the Artésiens had traumatized Jorge Sampaoli last season, but also because the men of Igor Tudor could be a bit distanced from the podium in the event of defeat.
In an overexcited atmosphere despite a Velodrome amputated from the lower part of its south bend suspended for the use of pyrotechnic devices, the Marseillais had a very nice first period. It was also rough since at each contact, players remained on the ground and Mattéo Guendouzi came to beg something from the referee. It was also hot between Seko Fofana and Léo Balerdi. The Argentinian defender keeps shouting at the Ivorian with each duel won.
It was in this tense atmosphere that the players of Igor Tudor lost (0-1), thanks to a goal from David Pereira da Costa with a long shot blocked by the unfortunate Léonardo Balerdi (78th). But it was not really in the game, where they were long superior, that OM lost this Saturday evening. It is above all because of the offensive awkwardness.
“If any team was going to win tonight, it had to be us »
We do not really count the missed chances of Clauss, because his attempts were not on target. At the end of one of these, he also extended behind the goal of Brice Samba. When it wasn’t Clauss, it was Guendouzi or Sanchez and when it was on target, it was Brice Samba who saved his people in a very good way. Very low statistics in terms of shots on target for OM (13 attempts, 3 short shots).
However, Igor Tudor, in a press conference, did not want to dwell on this defect: ” I’ll tell you what I told them (to the players, editor’s note). I saw them sad, but they didn’t have to be. They had a good match, football is not always fair or correct, if a team was to win tonight, it had to be us. Worried ? No, I’m proud of the team, of what they’ve done. They would have deserved more. They have to keep their heads up, we have a match to prepare for in four days. I don’t remember a match that we won without having deserved it. I don’t think it was luck or bad luck “Explained the Croatian giant during the five short post-match questions.
