At the Velodrome stadium,
Get on the train quickly, because the Nuno Tavares locomotive won’t be waiting for you long. The left piston of Olympique de Marseille again delivered a high-flying performance on Wednesday evening during his team’s home victory against Clermont Foot (1-0), on behalf of the 5th day of Ligue 1. As since the start of the season.
He first showed solidity, after receiving a bad blow on the ankle which could have been worth a yellow from Mr. Wattellier (7th). But the Portuguese with an impressive physique is more solid than that, and this sole did not prevent him from multiplying the round trips on his left side. Technique then, by taking a magnificent volley from a cross, after a control of the chest in the middle of the Clermont area. But, unlike previous games (3 goals since the start of the season), Tavares was unsuccessful as his shot hit the bar, before bouncing off the post (23rd) of Mory Diaw, the Auvergne goalkeeper.
“A very big reinforcement”
After these blows of fate in the first period, Valentin Rongier also hit the bar (18th), Igor Tudor’s men returned from the locker room determined to kill the match. Guess who made it click? Nuno Tavares has this time shown determination. Small transplant in the axis from his left side to strike sharply from the right: his special, while he is left-handed! But since success was not with him on Wednesday evening, his only fault, the very good Diaw deflected him with his fingertips for a corner. Too bad, Pape Gueye snapped a header to free his team and the Vélodrome (49). Thank you Tavares.
Number 30 of OM above all released an incredible power throughout the match by reigning on his left side. Pascal Gatien, the coach of Clermont spoke at a press conference of a “big athletic density”, in particular instilled by Nuno Tavares, and his counterpart on the right, Jonathan Clauss: “At one point they suffocate you”. Enough to make OM the best defense in Ligue 1, with three goals conceded.
That is the total already scored by the OM piston, despite his lack of success in this fifth Ligue 1 match. “Nuno, since the start of the season he has brought us a lot. Enormously. Frankly it’s not complicated to play with him. He is hyper offensive, he rarely loses balls, he is decisive. It’s a very big reinforcement, ”congratulated the striker in the mixed zone. A big reinforcement that OM will have to take advantage of since the Portuguese is only on loan from Arsenal, with no option to buy. Exactly like Saliba last season.