Olympique de Marseille: At the Vélodrome, Marseille beaten (1-2) by Leverkusen in a friendly match

FOOTBALL This defeat for OM concludes a mixed preparation campaign in terms of scores (two wins, two losses), but promising in the game

< img class="aligncenter" src="/wp-content/uploads/olympique-de-marseillenbsp-au-vélodrome-marseille-beaten-1-2-by-leverkusen-during-dun-match-friendly-129b974.jpg" alt="Olympique de Marseille: At the Vélodrome, Marseille beaten (1-2) by Leverkusen in a friendly match" />

Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba (left) at the fight for the ball with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyan of OM, in Marseille on August 2, 2023. — CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU

The boiling atmosphere at the Velodrome will not have been sufficient to carry the Marseillais to ’’ victory. In their last friendly match of the pre-season, Olympique de Marseille was beaten on Wednesday by Bayer Leverkusen 1-2.

The Germans scored; their two goals following; hand errors from Marseille goalkeeper Pau Lopez on corners, opening the scoring in the 14th minute through Jonathan Tah then just before half-time (40th) by Nadiem Amiri. The Marseillais, however, believed in it until the end following the the reduction in the score of François Mughe (78th).

A crucial move to come to C1

This Marseille defeat punctuates a mixed preparation campaign in terms of scores (two wins, against Nîmes, National, and Waalwijk, 1st Dutch division) for two defeats (Eupen, 1st Belgian division and Leverkusen, 6th in the Bundesliga last year) but promising in the game.

Marcelino&rsqu;s men will need to bounce back quickly and heal their lapses in concentration ahead of their crucial trip to Greece's Panathinaïkos in a week's time in the Champions League third qualifying round, if they still want to dream of C1.

This defeat on paper, however, does not fully reflect the face of the meeting as the Phocaeans have rather mastered the match. their subject, getting more opportunities and showing real complicity; between them, but sinning in the last gesture. It must be said that the players, especially the “old ones” a game system totally different from that of Igor Tudor, who left at the end of last season. From now on, the defense is over. three, up to a more classic 4-4-2 where the play on the sides is much more pronounced; than the Croatian's former axial system.

Marcelino puts his recruits on the field

In an atmosphere worthy of European evenings, Marcelino immediately lined up; practically all of his new recruits who have (unevenly) shown themselves: Aubameyang and Ndiaye, who were injured in the second half, remained discreet while Sarr and Kondogbia showed their strength. beautiful things.

The Germans opened the scoring against the run of play: on a corner, Lopez, embarrassed; by Kondogbia, boxed the ball directly to Jonathan Tah at the far post who only had to go. adjust from the head… in the left goal empty (14th). And despite forays into Marseille, by “Aubame” header (22nd) or on a long shot from Ounahi (31st), it was the Germans who aggravated the attack. the score on a direct corner from Amiri (40th), Lopez, far from his line, can only clear the ball in his cage.

In the second period, the Marseillais multiplied the assaults but without success: Sarr (46th), Kondogbia (53rd), Aubameyang (53rd), Ounahi (57th), Clauss (63rd), Mbemba (65th) were too tender in the last gesture. Up to the reduction in the score of the young François Mughe (78th) on a cross having surprised the entire German defense at the far post of Gueye, not enough all the same to turn the situation around.