A Disappointing Defeat

In their final preseason friendly match, Olympique de Marseille suffered a disappointing defeat against Bayer Leverkusen at the Vélodrome. Despite the electric atmosphere, Marseille couldn't secure a victory. Both of Leverkusen's goals came from mistakes made by Marseille goalkeeper Pau Lopez on corners. Jonathan Tah opened the scoring in the 14th minute, followed by Nadiem Amiri just before halftime in the 40th minute. Marseille did manage to pull one back through François Mughe in the 78th minute, but it wasn't enough to change the outcome.

Mixed Preseason Results

This loss adds to Marseille's mixed preseason campaign, with two victories against Nîmes and Waalwijk, and two defeats against Eupen and Leverkusen. Despite the results, the team has shown promise in terms of their gameplay. Marcelino's men will need to quickly bounce back and improve their concentration as they face a crucial away match against Panathinaikos in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

Adapting to a New System

On paper, the defeat doesn't fully reflect the course of the match. Marseille seemed to have control, creating more opportunities and showing good chemistry on the pitch. However, they struggled to convert their chances into goals. It's important to note that the players, especially the "veterans," are still adapting to a new system under Marcelino. This new system differs significantly from Igor Tudor's previous approach. The team has transitioned from a three-man defense to a more traditional 4-4-2 formation, with a greater emphasis on wing play.

Uneven Performances

Marcelino fielded most of his new signings in an atmosphere reminiscent of European nights. However, their performances were uneven. While Aubameyang and Ndiaye remained relatively quiet, Sarr and Kondogbia showed promising glimpses. Leverkusen took the lead against the run of play, with Lopez's clearance from a corner landing at the feet of Jonathan Tah, who headed the ball into the empty net. Despite Marseille's attempts to respond, it was the Germans who extended their lead with a direct corner from Amiri, as Lopez failed to clear the ball away from his goal line.

Areas for Improvement

In the second half, Marseille launched several attacks but failed to find the back of the net. Their finishing lacked the necessary precision. It wasn't until the 78th minute that François Mughe managed to score, taking advantage of a surprise cross at the far post by Gueye. Overall, Marseille's defeat against Leverkusen highlights the need for improvement in certain areas. The team must focus on their defensive organization and clinical finishing if they want to achieve their dreams of competing in the Champions League. With the upcoming crucial away match against Panathinaikos, Marseille will have to regroup and address these issues to secure a positive result.

Words of the day

opportunities : opportunités

defeat : défaite