2023-08-16 00:44:18
Par Ethan Daudel
Posted 36 minutes ago, Updated 36 minutes ago
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mattéo Guendouzi. Norbert Scanella / Panoramic
TOPS/FLOPS – Aubameyang opened the way by unlocking his counter against Panathinaikos (2-1, 3-5 on penalties). Guendouzi missed everything and condemned OM to the Europa League.
Tops
Aubameyang is launched
After a mixed start on Marseille soil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has just been adopted by the Vélodrome. If it took a few matches before adopting Marcelino’s philosophy, against Panathinaikos, the former Greens’ flagship scorer spoke about his experience to allow OM to foresee a qualification in C1. The Gabonese international was untenable, he scored twice, his first two goals in the jersey of Marseille. Two achievements of pure center forward, the first by dribbling the goalkeeper with a hook of which only he has the secret (2nd) and the second by taking over a millimeter cross from Clauss (45th + 1). He could even have offered himself a superb assist at the start of the second half to seal the outcome of the match, but Ismaila Sarr was flagged for offside. Despite the result, Aubameyang succeeded in his evening and his integration in Marseille, when he left in the 80th (replaced by Vitinha), he was given a standing ovation by a boiling Vélodrome which did not finish chanting his name.
The Olympian full-backs
If we talk about combative players, we must mention soldiers Renan Lodi and Jonathan Clauss. The two full-backs gave everything, in the fight and in the forward projection from the start to the end of the meeting. Proof of his relentlessness, the former player of Atlético de Madrid and Nottingham Forest ended the meeting on one leg in pain. Clauss has always stood out on his right side, by his races and his game forward. He also delivered the decisive pass on Aubameyang’s second goal. Like Aubameyang, Lodi seems to have adapted perfectly to the game philosophy advocated by his coach and should gain strength for the rest of the season.
Renan Lodi made his match with OM on Tuesday. Norbert Scanella / PANORAMIC
Flops
The unfortunate Guendouzi
Mattéo Guendouzi had a bad evening at the Vélodrome. Entering in the 69th in place of Iliman Ndiaye to preserve the score, the former Merlu brought bad luck to his people. However skilful with the ball, the tricolor is guilty of an unfortunate hand in the last moments of the match which causes the penalty and sends Marseille into overtime. He thought he could redeem himself by offering the decisive third goal to his partner Vitinha, but a tiny offside position decided otherwise. As if that weren’t enough, Guendouzi missed the only shot on goal of the session, synonymous with the elimination of OM. There are days with and days without, this Tuesday evening, luck was not on the side of Mattéo Guendouzi.
Vitinha pas décisif
Entering the game at the end of the game in place of Aubameyang, Vitinha had opportunities to kill the game. From his first ball, the Portuguese, ideally served by Lodi, missed his recovery by touching the ball with his shin. In extra time, still available, the former Braga player was often found by his partners but never shook the net. Confident after his decisive goal against Stade de Reims, he found his demons of last year.
Blanco the failed bet
It was his opportunity to shine, confined to the role of understudy of Pau Lopez, Ruben Blanco had the right to his moment against Panathinaikos. Bought this summer for 1.5 million euros, the 28-year-old doorman could have become the hero of an entire Velodrome. Entering the game in the last moments of extra time, Marcelino relied on the former Celta Vigo goalkeeper to get OM out of the penalty shootout. Unfortunately, despite good preparation upstream with his staff and the support of Pau Lopez, the Spaniard did not take a single shot on goal.
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