Traveling to Abi Deschamps on Saturday, Marseille provided the basics against Auxerre (2-0), four days before their first Champions League game in London against Tottenham. In view of this deadline, Igor Theodor decided to take turns. Thus, Luis Suarez, who has asked for more playing time recently, was aligned at the peak and Issa Kabore had his first term on the right of the Marseille defense instead of… Nuno Tavares, in place of Jonathan Klaus, moved to the left this Saturday.
It was also the former Lincois, fired in the first half for the Portuguese, the first to alert Benoit Costel after finding him on a long ball from Genghis Under (third). Subsequently, the Turk was responsible for Marseille’s first goal after four minutes. His shot from a tight angle was pushed by the post by Gerson, too frustrated to get out before the hour.
OM dominated the first half against Auxerrois who did not have any real chances, except for a few passes that no one else cut or were cut by the Marseille defense.
The first excitement in Marseille’s ranks came fifteen minutes into the second quarter when Gautier Heine left alone against Pau Lopez before being picked up by Leonardo Valerdi at his maximum. Paul Joly, who didn’t shine well by Valentin Roenger, crossed his head too often to deceive the Spanish goalkeeper. In the aftermath, Nuno Tavares again put the pressure in front of Auxerre’s goal by finding Costel’s pole from outside the penalty area. On the rebound, Alexis Sanchez, who had just returned, failed to widen the gap on the scoreboard. But the Chilean did not leave. It was he who scored the break goal, which was well sent by Matteo Guendouzi on the AJA roof (84th place). Unfortunately for Marseille, El Nino Maravella, who was ruled out in the Champions League knockout stages against Liverpool with Inter Milan last season, will be suspended on Wednesday against Tottenham.
2009
AJ Auxerre’s last success against Marseille in Ligue 1 dates back to Wednesday, December 23, 2009. Dennis Oliech scored twice (41, 79) on grass at Stade Vélodrome (2-0, day 19).
Player: Luis Suarez is not convinced
Luis Suarez was called up to replace Alexis Sanchez at the forefront of OM’s attack, and he didn’t make Abe Deschamps talk about him. In a Marseille attack that clearly veered to the left on Saturday with Klaus being substituted, the Colombian had only one chance to get his teeth into it, a pivotal shot from close range straight at Costel (75th place). The former Granada did not unite often, with one exception – two with Chancel Mbemba whose shot was too cross and went wide just before the break. Ten minutes after the end of the meeting, I gave way to Amin Harit.
