OM beat Angers and come back to within two points of Lens

This will not remain as the most successful match of the Marseille season in L1. Far from there. But three days before the end of the Championship, and while Lens had taken a five-point lead with his victory against Reims (2-1)on Friday, OM achieved the essentials this Sunday evening by winning against Angers (3-1), red lantern and already relegated. A logical success, acquired at the end of a stunning scenario where the Marseillais will have been led six minutes after the half-hour mark. After a convincing start to the match, where Dimitri Payet, holder for the first time since the beginning of February, had the opportunity to open the scoring twice: with a header (5th) then a shot deflected by Paul Bernardoni (6th). But OM, installed in a rather offensive formula (Cengiz Ünder and Jonathan Clauss pistons), fell into a form of false rhythm.

On a transition well initiated by the duo Ibrahima Niane-Himad Abdelli, and concluded nicely by Abdallah Sima (in front of an overly spectator Pau Lopez), the SCO froze the Vélodrome (0-1, 28th). The doubt did not last long, since Alexis Sanchez perfectly cut off a cross from Clauss six minutes later (1-1, 34th). Carried by inspired pistons, OM concretized their mastery with a goal from Dimitri Payet, perfectly served back by Alexis Sanchez (2-1, 48th).

During a second period disputed at a slow pace, the Marseillais, barely worried by a header from Niane (62nd), took a more substantial advantage following a penalty converted by Jordan Veretout (3-1, 75th). Marseille’s success could have been wider if Vitinha had framed a cross shot (84th). Three games from the end of the Championship, the dream of direct qualification for the C1 still exists for OM.

The man: the Payet symbol

At 9:50 p.m. on Sunday evening, Dimitri Payet went through a rare moment. For what could be his last match with OM, the attacking midfielder, on a perfect serve from Alexis Sanchez, delivered the Vélodrome with a powerful strike from the right. His 4th goal in L1 this season, his 103rd career. A sequence where the French international, established for the first time in more than three months, did not hide his emotion in a boiling Velodrome. At 36, Payet knew, perhaps at this moment, that he would not live many more…

The conclusion of a match where the Reunionese, mobile and available for the wearer, had a significant influence on Marseille’s offensive animation. Author of a very dangerous entry header following a good cross from Ünder (outside the post, 5th), the former Stéphanois could have delivered the Vélodrome a minute later without the stoppage of Paul Bernardoni ( 6th). He was replaced after 64 minutes, to the deserved ovation of the Marseille public.

77

With these 3 goals conceded against OM, the Angevins, however carried by a rather effective Paul Bernardoni in 2023, have already conceded 77 goals in 35 matches (worst defense in L1, tied with Troyes).