A convalescent match but signs of improvement: OM did not manage to maintain their two-goal advantage over Brighton on Thursday in the Europa League and ultimately took only one point (2-2) for the premiere of Gennaro Gattuso at the Stade Vélodrome.
The negative first, Marseille conceded two more goals and still did not win, thus stretching a series which has lasted for six games and the arrival of Brest at the end of August at the Vélodrome (2-0). Gattuso will also regret that after Monaco on Saturday, his team still let points en route after opening the score.
But in the Principality, OM lost (3-2) while they at least saved a point on Thursday. The draw between Ajax Amsterdam and AEK Athens in the other match leaves everything open in this group B before the upcoming double confrontation against the Greeks.
There were other positive signals on Thursday and OM were often encouraging for their reunion with their public, three weeks after a sad draw against Toulouse (0-0), the unexpected starting point of the crisis that they have been going through since the Provençal club.
For his first at the Vélodrome, Gattuso had asked his players to “turn on the light” at the stadium and they often did so, even leaving to applause from the corners.
From the outset, the tactical duel announced between Gattuso and his compatriot Roberto De Zerbi kept its promises, with frankly funny scenes when Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele had the ball at his feet.
The Marseillais, aware of the quality of the English passing game, were not going to press him and Steele then kept the ball at his feet, sometimes up to 15 or 20 seconds, for sessions of standing still worthy of track cycling formerly home to the Vélodrome.
But there was movement, too, and in this game, Marseille and Gattuso were initially the best.
OM first struck at the end of a nice Correa-Clauss move well concluded by Mbemba in the center forward position (1-0, 19th). Then in the next minute and on a ball clumsily lost by captain Dunk, Harit recovered, hit and served Veretout for the 2-0 goal (20th).
Gattuso was then able to hit Balerdi’s hand after a big tackle from the Argentinian, his team was well in place and his business seemed remarkably prepared.
But the end of the premiere was already harder and it was then Pau Lopez who entered the stage. Criticized in recent weeks, the Spanish goalkeeper made two decisive saves on a header from Ansu Fati (42nd) then on a shot from Welbeck (45th 1).
After the break, the trend was confirmed but OM also suffered from the injury exit of Veretout and the temporary exit of Harit.
Disorganized when the Moroccan returned to the field, the Marseillais were stung by Brighton, who scored through Gross in the middle of an overly passive defense, a decidedly recurring problem since the departure of Marcelino (2-1, 54th ).
Then, the fight was intense and uncertain, with big opportunities for Vitinha on one side and for Mitoma on the other. But OM was more in danger than dangerous and ended up breaking.
A few hours after being recalled to the France team, Clauss caused a penalty by catching Lamptey’s foot. Joao Pedro transformed it (2-2, 88th) and the two teams therefore separated in a fairly fair draw.
For OM and Gattuso, this point taken is perhaps a step towards complete recovery. But to do that we will have to take three on Sunday against Le Havre.