OM were held to a draw by Reims at the end of the second day of Ligue 1 (2-2). Find the highs and lows of this match.
TOPS
Merlin omnipresent
Lined up in midfield in Brest, Quentin Merlin made a very noticeable return to the left side of the Marseille defense. The former Nantais, very available, chained the climbs in his corridor. Active, and efficient. Decisive passer on the opening of the score of Harit, it was he who provoked the handball of Diouf on the equalizer of Greenwood at the end of the match, on which OM saved the point of the draw against Reims Sunday evening (2-2). Moreover rarely caught at fault on the defensive plan.
Also readLigue 1: for De Zerbi’s first match at the Vélodrome, OM snatches a draw after a lively match against Reims
Fofana’s jewel
The action of the match. Maybe even of this second day of Ligue 1. In the wake of the equalizer signed by Akieme, Reims took the advantage, thanks to a sublime goal scored solo by Yaya Fofana. A little gem. Served on the left wing, the Reims midfielder very easily got the better of Murillo and Balerdi, before deceiving a Rulli completely abandoned by his defense on this action. The 20-year-old player will remember his first start in Ligue 1 for a long time.
Also read: Ligue 1: Fofana’s festival, Greenwood’s opportunism, Marseille-Reims goals on video
Greenwood in the good shots
Author of a sparkling debut against Brest (1-5), Mason Greenwood did not shine as much, but he knew how to stand out. The former Manchester United player, still aligned on the right flank, gained momentum over the course of the first half. He could have turned into a passer if Wahi had not lost his duel with Diouf before the break. Less influential in the second half, he nevertheless avoided the worst for OM by equalizing opportunistically at the end of the match. His third goal in only two appearances in the Marseille jersey.
Mason Greenwood woke up the Vélodrome at the end of the match. William Cannarella / PANORAMIC
FLOPS
OM’s huge air pocket
Victory seemed within their grasp, given the way the first half played. But against all expectations, OM completely lost the thread after the break. A total collapse. And unexpected. Overwhelmed by Reims’ surge, the Phocéens suffered terribly for most of the second half. Unable to hold the ball, and far too fragile defensively. Trailing and battered, Roberto De Zerbi’s men ultimately avoided the worst by equalizing at the end of the match, but Marseille supporters expected a different scenario for the first time at the Vélodrome this season.
Also readLigue 1: relive the spectacular draw between Marseille and Reims
Wahi’s Nightmarish Premiere at the Velodrome
Bad night for Elye Wahi. The Marseille striker, expected to be Aubameyang’s successor up front, could hardly have done worse for his debut in front of his new fans. While he did not do badly in the game, the player recruited from Lens showed enormous waste in finishing, by chaining together missed opportunities in the first half. Including a lost duel against Diouf, and especially two very poorly negotiated balls in front of the almost empty goal. Frustrated by his repeated failures, he was the first Marseille player to give up his place in the second half, under the whistles of a disappointed Vélodrome. His lack of efficiency hurt OM a lot, who could have gone into the locker room with a bigger advantage.
