The Choc des Olympiques has a habit of, precisely, throwing up a few shocks. Some in recent years have unfortunately come off the pitch – leading to a ban on travelling Marseille fans for Sunday’s Matchday 5 closer.
The home supporters, in any case, did not have to wait long for an early twist, as OM‘s Leonardo Balerdi was sent off within the first five minutes of the game. The Argentine was first penalised within seconds of kick-off for a lunge on Corentin Tolisso, before being outsmarted by Alexandre Lacazette soon after, while frantically defending a Lyon counter-attack.
Les Gones predictably dominated proceedings from then on – a Gift Orban overhead kick which hit the bar and a last-ditch Rongier block to keep out Tolisso’s shot among the clearer opportunities for Pierre Sage’s men. The former Nantes midfielder was almost decisive at the other end of the pitch as well, seeing his shot from the edge of the box parried by an impressive Lucas Perri reflex save.
His Argentine counterpart would keep the visitors afloat with a string of impressive saves, culminating in a penalty save from Alexandre Lacazette just before the break – striking first in what was something of an Olympic rematch of their own.
The hosts would eventually find the back of the net through some unlikely contributors – Clinton Mata swinging the ball into the box after a sliding tackle to swipe the ball from Rongier, and Ćaleta-Car on hand to send an emphatic header past Rulli. It was a timely first goal in Lyon colours for the Croatian – coming against his former club, no less.
Lyon were made to pay for their missed chances, though, as Pol Lirola pounced on a defence-splitting through ball from Luis Henrique to unexpectedly draw Marseille level. The Catalan right-back – who had not scored for Marseille in nearly three years – had been brought on for Elye Wahi at half-time, with the former Lens man having struggled to make the most of the few chances that came his way.
Lirola would be involved in Marseille’s second of the night as well, following up a lung-bursting run down the right with a cross to the onrushing Ulisses Garcia. With the Lyon defence squarely beaten, the Swiss left-back found the back of the net with a lob over a helpless Perri.
The stoppage time that followed was enough to elevate the match among the Olympico all-time classics. Rayan Cherki, on the day his contract renewal was announced, appeared to have rescued a point for the hosts with a smart backheel finish – only for another substitute in Marseille’s Jonathan Rowe to hit back immediately afterwards. Roberto De Zerbi’s men, now level on points with Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco – will have needed a Ligue 1 classic to see off their fellow Olympians – but it could be a foundational performance for the season ahead.
Lyon player ratings
Lucas Perri, 5 – The Brazilian had little to do in the first half given Marseille were on the back foot from early on, but he did prevent an opener from the visitors on the half-hour mark by keeping out a close-range shot from Rongier. However, he did look shakier in the second half – and was notably beaten too easily on Garcia’s lob to put Marseille in front.
Clinton Mata, 6
Duje Ćaleta-Car, 5
Nicolás Tagliafico, 4
Ainsley Maitland-Niles, 4
Nemanja Matić, 5
Jordan Veretout, 4 – Replaced by Maxence Caqueret halfway through the second half.
Corentin Tolisso, 4
Abner Vinícius, 3
Alexandre Lacazette, 4 – The captain cleverly drew the foul that led to Leonardo Balerdi’s dismissal, but was ultimately too ineffective in front of goal to make the most of the numerical advantage he helped crate.
Gift Orban, 4
Marseille player ratings
Guillermo Rulli, 8
Leonardo Balerdi, N/A – The Argentine was sent off within the first five minutes after two largely avoidable yellow cards – challenges on Tolisso and then Lacazette. An early return to the dressing room made all the more disappointing by the fact that he had reinvented himself in the last 12 months to become Marseille’s defensive lynchpin.
Geoffrey Kondogbia, 6
Lilian Brassier, 7
Michael Murillo, 5
Ismaël Koné, 5
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, 5
Mason Greenwood, 5
Amine Harit, N/A – Was replaced by Valentin Rongier in the wake of Leonardo Balerdi’s sending-off.
Luis Henrique, 5
Elye Wahi, 3 – Admittedly, the circumstances were not ideal for the French striker to get much service up front – but the few times he did manage to get on the ball were inconsequential. A rare off-day against his favourite opposition, having scored 6 times in his career against Les Gones. Replaced by Leonardo Balerdi (9) who put in a career-defining performance to lead Marseille’s comeback, first scoring and then setting up Garcia for the second goal.
GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin – reporting from the Groupama Stadium, Décines-Charpieu
