TOPS
A benchmark match. Irregular and generally disappointing since his arrival at Canebière this summer, Iliman Ndiaye delivered an excellent performance this Sunday. The Senegalese international, very active in support of Aubameyang, quickly took over the game, dropping very low to set the pace and direct his team’s play. His equalizing goal, scored with a beautiful left shot under the bar, turned the match around. Mute until then at the Vélodrome, the former Sheffield United player received a nice ovation as he left the pitch, after also causing a penalty on the hour mark.
Unlike Ndiaye and most of OM’s summer recruits, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang quickly knew how to acclimatize to the Olympian context. And the Gabonese striker struck again this Sunday. Available on the attacking front, he especially stood out for his efficiency, scoring twice. Well placed at the far post for his first goal, he deceived Lecomte again in the second half, this time with a penalty converted in complete relaxation.
As against Shakhtar Donetsk, we expected to see OM start in 3-5-2. The Marseille club finally evolved into a 4-4-2, with the Chancel Mbemba-Ismaila Sarr association on the right side. An unexpected choice. But paying. Too lax in opening the Hérault score, the first named quickly rectified the situation. Very enterprising with climbs that hurt the opposing defense. The Congolese international, author of a great CAN, offered a caviar to Aubameyang on the second Marseille goal, after a lot of work from Sarr. The latter also gained momentum over the minutes. The former Rennais tried a lot and was often valuable in his defensive returns. It was he who caused Sacko’s CSC at the end of the match.
FLOPS
Omeragic forfeited, Falaye Sacko was back this Sunday in the Montpellier eleven. But the MHSC defender did not really meet expectations. Quite the contrary. The 28-year-old completely lost his footing throughout the match. Overtaken on the first two Marseille goals, he concluded his evening with an unfortunate CSC, countering a ball pushed back by Lecomte. His disappointed expression after this last incident of play clearly testified to his ordeal.
Logical winner, OM nevertheless scared themselves by conceding the opener from the start. A goal caused by a rather gross error from Samuel Gigot. At the end of a confused action, the Marseille captain saw his missed clearance transform into a decisive pass for Al-Tamari. Weighed down by this blunder, the Olympian defender nevertheless managed to raise his head throughout the match, until he left with a shoulder injury at the end of the match.
