Olympique de Marseille hosted the Spanish club Villarreal this Thursday evening, at the Orange Vélodrome stadium, during the round of 16 first leg of the Europa League. A fairly important match for the Marseillais who are regaining good colors since the ousting of the Italian coach, Gennaro Gattuso, and the appointment of Jean-Louis Gasset on the Marseille bench. A European poster which also marked the reunion between the Spanish tactician, Marcelino, and the Marseille public. Indeed, after a standoff with certain Marseille ultras, Marcelino resigned from his position as OM coach on September 20.
In the first period, Marseille quickly played their game. After a quarter of an hour of mixed start with two teams responding to each other, Gasset’s troops then took the upper hand. On an overflow from Jonathan Clauss, the French full-back, served by Iliman Ndiaye, crossed into the Spanish area and Jordan Veretout, in full overrun, placed a header to deceive Pepe Reina (22nd, 1-0). A few minutes, on a Marseille cross from Amine Harit, Yerson Mosquera missed his clearance and deceived his own goalkeeper. (27th, 2-0). Served in the middle, Ndiaye delayed and moved closer to penetrate the surface. Left alone, he attempted a shot with the flat of his foot to deceive Reina but the Spanish goalkeeper stretched out to repel the danger for a corner (34th).
Launched in depth, Sarr fell in the area in contact with Mosquera. After checking with the VAR, Mr. Serdar Gözübüyük indicated the penalty point. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grabbed the ball. The Gabonese converted the penalty (43rd) allowing OM to lead three goals to zero at the break. In the second act, the Phocéens had not finished impressing and blowing up the Vélodrome. Served at the penalty point, Iliman Ndiaye, alone in front of the cages, completely unscrewed his shot and the ball escaped the target of Pepe Reina (53rd). On a new opportunity, the Gabonese attempted a cross for his comrades, notably Iliman Ndiaye, but the ball went directly into Pepe Reina’s cages. A cross-shot which ended up as Marseille’s fourth goal (58th, 4-0). While he replaced Aïssa Mandi at the break, Alberto Moreno received a second yellow card, synonymous with exclusion (62nd). The return match will take place in Spain, on the pitch of the Stade de la Ceramique, on March 14.