In a completely crazy match, OM held qualification but lost on penalties on Tuesday evening. His adventure ends in the third preliminary round.
A disaster. While qualification was reaching out to him, Marseille collapsed after stoppage time against Panathinaikos and finally lost on penalties (2-1 after extra time, 3-5 on tab), in the third round. preliminary return to the Champions League, Tuesday August 15. A cruel outcome, especially since OM had so far erased their first leg loss (0-1) thanks to a double from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2nd, 45th + 1).
OM had accustomed their followers to many disappointments in recent years, but have again innovated in frustration. This, given the scenario, will take time to be digested. As the Vélodrome prepared to celebrate a forceps qualification, a video call for a hand in the box by Matteo Guendouzi offered an unexpected opportunity for Pana to come back. With composure, the incoming Fotis Ioannidis (90th + 9, 2-1) converted the offering.
Not varnished by arbitration
Marseille can always regret that this same video assistance was not called a few minutes earlier, for a charge in the back of the same Guendouzi in the area (90th + 3), as he can wonder if Ismaïla Sarr really took action game on a goal denied to Vitinha (111th). But OM were also in the wrong and could have avoided such a scenario by better controlling the second period.
The start was however idyllic. After 90 seconds of play, rookie Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang converted an offering from Ismaïla Sarr (2nd, 1-0), dribbling the goalkeeper to open his counter with OM. In an intoxicating first period, he struck a second time, cutting off a cross from Jonathan Clauss (45th + 1, 2-0) at the near post. Marseille had found a scorer, and it was hard to see Pana turn the tide against this unleashed OM.
OM could have folded the match earlier
The score could even have taken on another dimension if the twirling Iliman Ndiaye (11th, 21st) and Ismaïla Sarr (53rd, 61st) had concluded their offensives. And then, probably thinking the Greeks were in trouble, and sure of their strength, the Marseillais gradually retreated. Physically affected, they suffered several warnings from catchy Greeks if not fully dangerous (76th, 77th, 85th). These booster shots were not enough.
In a stifling extra time, Marseille found a second wind and took advantage of a cowering opponent as soon as their goal was scored to regain control of the match. But, despite several situations for Vitinha (104th, 118th) and a goal denied to their Portuguese striker, OM were pushed towards penalties that their coach Marcelino wanted to avoid at all costs.
The missed shot by the unfortunate Matteo Guendouzi conditioned Marseille’s ambitions, the skill of the Greek shooters (5/5 despite the entry of specialist goalkeeper Ruben Blanco) definitively buried them. Fallen from above while having mastered 105 of the 120 minutes of play, Marseille will have to settle for the Europa League.