At the Velodrome stadium,
Cengiz Under rhymes more and more with saviour. A week after offering victory to OM against Bordeaux (1-0), the Turk put on his goalscoring clothes against Lille on Sunday evening at the Stade Vélodrome, but to snatch a draw, this time (1-1).
Best defense in Ligue 1 and largely dominating, Jorge Sampaoli’s men were however caught cold in the 15th minute, on a header from Botman. The rapid expulsion of Benjamin André (32nd), judged as “extremely severe” by Jocelyn Gourvennec, should allow the Marseillais to quickly stick to the score. We had to wait much longer, as the Olympian attacks sounded as hollow as the Vélodrome and its capacity reduced to 5,000 spectators. Without a Pau Lopez, savior of his team thanks to two or three superb saves, OM could even have been led more widely.
“A flash of genius”
“Indeed, we had a large domination, but he missed this small chance. This Lille team has a lot of experience, they are champions. We had a great moment of domination, without this success. We have 22 or 24 chances, but we can’t finish them, ”said Jorge Sampaoli after the match. 22 or 24 chances but only seven shots on target for nearly 80% ball possession.
👀 @cengizunder 🇹🇷 #OMLOSC pic.twitter.com/n65EKuYHNe
– Olympique de Marseille (@OM_Officiel) January 16, 2022
The Marseillais had to wait for the 75th minute to see a magnificent curled right, his bad foot, from Cengiz Under end up in the side net of Grbic, the Lille goalkeeper, also very good. A week after offering OM their first success in 44 years in Bordeaux, which also earned him a tifo from the Winners, the Turk has done it again. “It’s great, he is one of the players capable of hitting the mark on a flash of genius. Nobody expects him to title with the right foot, it ends in a skylight [petit filet, on a dit]. It’s good, it allows us to create more doubt, and know whether to go out on him. I’m happy for him, ”congratulated Boubacar Kamara.
Lack of movement and risk taking
Apart from the Turk, no one will have cast doubt on the two Lille control towers, Botman and Fonte. “They were in front of the box with two big guys, it’s hard to find space. We tried to change sides quickly to create gaps. But it lacks movement and when there is no pass, it’s hard to make the call, ”summarized perfectly Bouba Kamara, dad for the second time this week.
Passes without movement from one side to the other, a lack of accuracy, no risk taking, until the feat of Under, an almost invisible Milik, and a Payet far from his level and here are OM again which struggles against a (very) low boulder. “It’s difficult to play against a well-grouped team, but we weren’t effective,” swept Sampaoli, questioned about this lack of movement, before summing up the match to a “monologue” from OM .
“Full of hesitation”
Boubacar Kamara, at the end of his contract next June, is much more frank about the difficulties of his training club.
We have players who shoot less, who wait to be close to the goal. Maybe more smugglers to make others shine. Me for example, in the first half, I get a good ball from Pol [Lirola], I hear Sun [Payet] call me… It disturbs me, I try to put him. It’s full of hesitations like that that make it hard to take our chances from afar”.
Good news for the Marseille attack, the contract of new striker Cédric Bakambu should be approved for the match against Lens next weekend. A direct adversary in the race for Europe, with Nice, Rennes and Monaco, who all won on this day. And with manner. Unlike OM therefore.