2023-08-02 23:33:17
Pair Alban Conejero
Posted 2 minutes ago, Just updated
Olympian supporters and Pau Lopez. Norbert Scanella / Panoramic / Norbert Scanella / Laurent Sanson / Panoramic / LAURENT SANSON
TOPS/FLOPS – The Vélodrome en fête witnessed the defeat of OM against Bayer Leverkusen (1-2), well helped by Pau Lopez.
FLOPS
The atmosphere of the Velodrome
Heated as during the great European games, the Vélodrome was there for the return of OM to its garden. More than 60,000 spectators enthusiastically cheered on their team to kick off Marseille’s season. Songs, ovations, especially for the return of Amine Harit to competition (73rd) or the exit of Iliman Ndiaye (58th), everything was there, except victory, in a festive stadium.
Leverkusen serene in the face of the craze
Faced with an atmosphere of great evenings, the formation of Xabi Alonso did not tremble and knew how to play their card serenely by taking advantage of Marseille’s errors to make the difference, mainly from a corner. The team has changed little compared to last season except that Moussa Diaby and Karim Demirbai have left, while Granit Xhaka has arrived. The Alonso paw brought Leverkusen to a superb end to the season in Germany and a Europa League semi-final after a disastrous start to the season. It would seem that the German club can rely on an interesting formula to return to service.
The Senegalese duo Sarr – Ndiaye
The two Marseille rookies signed a good performance for the first steps in front of their public. Galvanized by the atmosphere, Ndiaye never stopped fighting and creating interesting gaps through his deflection game. On his right side, Ismaila Sarr has often weighed by his overflows and his speed. Grimaldo then Münz paid the price. The latter also took a yellow card on his first intervention against the former Watford.
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FLOPS
Pau Lopez, lack of authority
The Spanish goalkeeper only played one half, replaced at the break by Ruben Blanco. His copy is not really satisfactory, he who is not exempt from any reproach on the two goals conceded by his team. Two corners, two errors and two goals. On the first, he is embarrassed by Kondogbia and lets the ball pass to the far post for Jonathan Tah who places his head in the empty goal. A few minutes later, he was surprised at the near post by the returning effect on a direct corner from Nadiem Amiri.
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Aubameyang erased
Of the new recruits in attack, he was the only one to have already played under his new colors. However, he seemed the least on his feet, being too discreet in the Marseille attempts. Apart from a header captured by the Austrian goalkeeper Patrick Pentz and a curled shot too strong (second period) he did not have much to put in his mouth. On this last occasion, he also removes a good striking situation from Ounahi who, unlike him, was facing the game.
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