Champions League – OM valiant but defeated at Tottenham (2-0), doubled by Richarlison

For their return to the Champions League, the Marseillais have resumed their bad habits. Undefeated so far this season, Igor Tudor’s men suffered their first defeat of the season on Tottenham’s lawn (2-0). After a quality match and a dominated first period, the Olympians could not resist after Chancel Mbemba was sent off at the start of the second period, and Richarlison ended up punishing them with a brace.

OM almost offered the scalp of their most formidable opponent in Group D of this C1, which is more in London, but it was Tottenham who had the last word. In his usual 3-4-3, Tudor, deprived of Alexis Sanchez and who chose not to use Dimitri Payet, almost won his bet, his team hurting the current Premier League thirds very badly throughout the first period.

At 10 against 11, OM almost opened the scoring…

Unable to hold the ball, often forced to defend in their camp, the players of Antonio Conte, who spent the first act shouting instructions, visibly frustrated, in front of his bench, did not exist for a long time. But OM, not at all intimidated by the atmosphere of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, however missed the point when approaching the opposing goal to hurt a Hugo Lloris who, however, did not seem to be in a big evening. The French international, however, slept well on a long shot from Mattéo Guendouzi (45th + 1).

While he was dreaming of playing a bad trick on the finalist of the 2019 edition, OM were however weighed down just after returning from the locker room, on a “Tottenhamesque” action. With a perfect through pass for Heung-Min Son, Harry Kane destabilized the entire Olympian defense. Beaten in the race, Chancel Mbemba, however solid in the first act, tackled to clear the ball, but, in the position of last defender, he mowed down the South Korean in front of his surface, and received a logical red card (47th) .

Already crucial duel against Eintracht

From then on, the dynamic of the meeting was reversed, and it was Eric Bailly’s teammates who began to suffer. However, on an action launched by the hyperactive Nuno Tavares, and on a well-dosed cross from the incoming Sead Kolasinac, Amine Harit was on the verge of freezing the Spurs (74th). In the process, the ax fell for Marseille, and on a cross from Ivan Perisic, Richarlison, alone scored his first goal in his new colors with his head (1-0, 76th).

Five minutes later, on a cross from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, the Brazilian scored twice, still from the head, to bury the southern hopes (2-0, 81st). OM will have the opportunity to bounce back next week, at home, against the other loser of this first day: Eintracht Frankfurt. Randal Kolo Muani’s team was beaten at home by Sporting Lisbon (0-3), conceding three goals in the last half hour. The Portuguese are therefore co-leader of group D with Tottenham.