The context
If it is too early to talk about a final sprint, this spring LOSC-OM has everything of the end of season clash between two candidates for Europe. A week after their brilliant victory in the Derby du Nord against Lens (2-1), the Mastiffs followed up with a second big showing at the Stade Pierre Mauroy, facing Marseillais obliged to obtain a result to keep in touch with the top of the table. It promises spectacle and suspense. On the field side, Paulo Fonseca renews the same eleven as against Lens with two changes. Alexsandro replaces Bafodé Diakité in the center of defense and Rémy Cabella takes his place in the left lane in place of Gabriel Gudmundsson.
The game
The Mastiffs enter the match well. They even offer themselves the first hot situation. At the penalty spot, Jo David shifts Edon Zhegrova to the right. Alone facing the goal, the Kosovar winger opens his left foot but loses his face to face with Lopez (10′). What an opportunity! Lille outrageously dominated the start of the match, recovering the ball from midfield and depriving the Olympians of all possession. Then the situations follow one another: Alexsandro’s header from a free kick from Rémy Cabella (25′), powerful strikes from Tiago Santos (28′), then Nabil Bentaleb (30′) and Rémy Cabella (41′). But the scoreboard remains stuck at 0-0 at the break.
The second act resumes with a nice intervention from Lucas Chevalier on a point-blank shot (51′). From one goal to another, Jonathan David sinks into the Marseille area and is “cut up” by Gigot. Penalty! The Canadian striker takes justice into his own hands and opens the scoring with a perfect counterattack (1-0, 54′). The 2-0 could have followed. On the right side, Edon Zhegrova cuts back and hits hard with the left. On the bar! (56′). Sovereigns, Lille break 15 minutes later. Rémy Cabella recovers the ball at 30 meters, enters the area, slightly off-center and opens his foot. Skylight (2-0, 71′). And because there is no great team without a great goalkeeper, Lucas Chevalier comes to save the match with a firm hand in his face to face with Aubameyang, who was attempting the lob (74′). OM nevertheless reduced the score against the run of play following a mix-up in the Lille area (2-1, 81′), before Gabi Gudmundsson kills the suspense immediately, receiving a cross from Tiago Santos (3-1, 84′). The hard-hitting Swede is even close to the double, but his shot is too cross (90’+2).
Thanks to this success, LOSC temporarily takes 3rd place in the standings and is now 10 points ahead of its evening opponent. A great operation and full of confidence before (re)diving into the big European bath.
The wink
Two prestigious guests kicked off LOSC-OM. The first wore the Lille jersey with all-British class in 2011-2012, notably in the Champions League. The second, triple world cycling champion, visited the Domaine de Luchin two days before Paris-Roubaix (which he won in 2018). Big up has Joe Cole et Peter Sagan.
The following
One big poster is chasing the other right now at LOSC. Of the Thursday (9 p.m.), the Mastiffs will travel to Aston Villa for a captivating Europa Conference League quarter-final. Return match a week later, Thursday April 18 (6:45 p.m.) at the Stade Pierre Mauroy. The ticket office opens this Monday to the general public.
THE MATCH SHEET
LOSC – Olympique de Marseille: 3-1 (0-0)
28th day of Ligue 1 Uber Eats – Season 2023-2024
Friday April 5, 2024 (9 p.m.) – Stade Pierre Mauroy (open roof) – 46,864 spectators
Referee: M.Dechepy
Buts : David (54′ sp), Cabella (71′), Gudmundsson (84′) for LOSC; Ismaily csc (81′) for OM
Warnings: Santos (21′) for LOSC; Harit (27′), Gigot (52′), Merlin (58′), Kondogbia (70′), Balerdi (78′), Veretout (90’+7) for OM
LOSC: Knight – Santos, Yoro, Alexsandro, Ismaily – Bentaleb, Andrew (c) (Bouaddi, 90’+3) – Zhegrova (Diakite, 88′), Haraldsson (Ounas, 88′), Cabella (Gudmundsson, 78′) – David (Knight, 90’+3)
Coach : Paulo Fonseca
TO : Lopez – Garcia, Gigot (c), Balerdi, Merlin – Ounahi (Ndiaye, 65′), Veretout, Gueye (Kondogbia, 65′), Harit (Correa, 83′), Luis Enrique (Moumbagna, 65′), Aubameyang
Coach : Jean-Louis Gasset