OM remain in the race after a draw against Brighton (2-2)

OM failed to maintain their two-goal advantage over Brighton on Thursday October 5 in the Europa League, and ultimately took only one point (2-2) for coach Gennaro’s first Gattuso at the Stade-Vélodrome.

Marseille conceded two more goals and still have not won, thus stretching a series which has lasted for six matches and the arrival of Brest at the end of August at the Vélodrome (2-0). But the Phocaeans still saved a point on Thursday, and the draw (1-1) between Ajax Amsterdam and AEK Athens in the other match leaves everything open in this group B before the upcoming double confrontation against the Greeks.

For its part, Toulouse won at home against Linz (1-0), the most affordable opponent in its group. The TFC thus pockets the three points necessary to hope to extend its adventure in the Europa League. On the other hand, Rennes lost (0-1) to Villarreal, after missing a penalty and multiple clear chances.

The Marseille defense still found wanting

For his first at the Vélodrome, Gennaro Gattuso, the new OM coach, asked his players to” turn on the light “ and they often did, coming out of the corners to applause.

OM first struck at the end of a nice movement between Joaquin Correa and Jonathan Clauss well concluded by Chancel Mbemba in the center forward position (1-0, 19th). Then in the next minute, and on a ball clumsily lost by English captain Lewis Dunk, Amine Harit recovered, hit and served Jordan Veretout for a second goal (20th).

But things got tougher at the end of the first period and the Marseillais were then saved by two decisive saves from Pau Lopez on a header from Ansu Fati (42nd) then on a shot from Danny Welbeck (45th).^e + 1).

After the break, the trend was confirmed and OM also suffered from the injury-related exit of Jordan Veretout and the temporary exit of Amine Harit. Disorganized when the Moroccan returned to the field, the Marseillais found themselves overwhelmed and Pascal Gross was able to score in the middle of an overly passive defense (54th).

Then, the fight was intense and uncertain, with big chances for Vitinha on the Marseille side and for Kaoru Mitoma on the Brighton side. But OM was more in danger than dangerous and ended up breaking. A few hours after being recalled to the France team, Jonathan Clauss caused a penalty by catching Tarik Lamptey’s foot. Joao Pedro converted it (88th) and the two teams separated in a fairly fair draw.

Toulouse still undefeated

For its part, Toulouse pleased its supporters, fourteen years after TFC’s last European match at home and a success against Partizan Belgrade (1-0). After their good inaugural draw with the Belgians Union Saint-Gilloise (1-1) and before a tempting double confrontation with Liverpool, the Toulouse are still undefeated and are currently in a qualifying position, in second place in the group E behind the English.

Hindered by Linz’s pressing, the winners of the Coupe de France, however, have long had difficulty getting out of their camp. They still opened the scoring, thanks to Chilean full-back Gabriel Suazo, an opportunist on one of his team’s first real incursions into the opposing area (31st).

For these European reunions which were played behind closed doors, the Stadium did not have much else to eat offensively, apart from an uncrossed header from the Dutch striker Thijs Dallinga superbly diverted on his line by the Austrian goalkeeper (68ᵉ).

Without the central defender Logan Costa, hero of the Cup final against Nantes (5-1), suspended, nor the Dutch midfielder on loan from Lens, Stijn Spierings, not qualified for the Europa League, the “Téfécé” mainly gritted his teeth in the second act to maintain his advantage. Striker Marin Ljubicic, alone facing the empty goal, missed the equalizer (58th) and the Bleuets goalkeeper, Guillaume Restes, remained solid.

Rennes misses a penalty

The same cannot be said of Rennes who conceded defeat (0-1) to Villarreal. Newcomers Amine Gouiri and Arnaud Kalimuendo (64th) did good for the Rouge et Noir, bringing percussion and dynamism, half an hour of play after the Norwegian Alexander Sorloth opened the scoring with a dry strike (36th).

The match got carried away in the last twenty minutes: in the 76th minute, the Villarreal goalkeeper threw himself at the feet of Arnaud Kalimuendo and the referee whistled a penalty. But, after video verification, he reversed his decision. Rebelote in the 90th, this time the penalty was validated, but it was not transformed: Martin Terrier came up against Pepe Reina (90^e + 2).

With this defeat, Rennes, who beat Maccabi Haifa (3-0) in the first match, find themselves second in Group F behind the Greeks Panathinaikos.