Amidst a week of refereeing controversies and club president Pablo Longoria’s suspension, Marseille returned to Ligue 1 and secured a much-needed victory against Nantes at the Stade Vélodrome. Goals from Amine Gouiri and Mason Greenwood in quick succession late in the second half sealed the win.
Match Summary
Following a turbulent week for Marseille, dominated by president Longoria’s suspension, the team needed to refocus and win against Nantes. With PSG’s strong victory, Marseille’s priority was to solidify their Champions League qualification spot. For Nantes, the game was crucial in their fight against relegation.
Gouiri had an early opportunity but couldn’t connect with Merlin’s pass. Rabiot had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside against Gouiri after VAR review.
Nantes threatened when Rulli saved Lepenant’s shot after good play from Simon. Murillo was injured and replaced by Lirola. Marseille faced similar difficulties as in their previous match, requiring persistence. Greenwood shot over the bar early in the second half, prompting substitutions.
Nantes almost scored when Leroux skillfully penetrated the defense, but Rulli made a crucial save. Marseille finally broke the deadlock when Rongier set up Gouiri for an easy finish (72nd minute). Greenwood then doubled the lead, capitalizing on defensive errors to score emphatically (80th minute). Gouiri nearly added a third in injury time but missed.
Ultimately, Marseille claimed three points against a resilient Nantes side, extending their lead over Nice in the Champions League race.
Olympique de Marseille Player Ratings
Player
Rating
Comment
Géronimo Rulli
6
Another solid performance, consistently reliable in Ligue 1. Made key saves, notably denying Leroux in the second half.
Leonardo Balerdi
5
His return brought stability after a previous defeat. Solid defensively and aided in ball distribution from the back.
Amir Murillo
N/A
Substituted due to injury after a promising start.
Quentin Merlin
4
Struggled offensively against his former team. Faded as Marseille’s intensity dropped.
Luis Henrique
4
A subdued performance, lacking impact in attack and struggling to beat his marker.
Ismaël Bennacer
5
After a strong start to his Marseille career, this was a less impactful game. Lacked precision and was occasionally careless in possession. Rongier’s substitution improved the team’s midfield.
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
6
Showed leadership and assertiveness, helping Marseille regain control against a compact Nantes midfield. His intensity was vital, though his passing and attacking contribution were limited.
Adrien Rabiot
5
Had a disallowed goal and got into good positions, but lacked efficiency and overall involvement due to Nantes’ strong defense.
Amine Gouiri
6
Demonstrated progress in becoming a central striker, focusing on decisive moments. Scored a crucial goal thanks to Rongier’s assist.
Mason Greenwood
5
While his general play wasn’t at its best, he provided a crucial goal, showcasing his pace and finishing ability to secure the victory.
Substitutes
Pol Lirola
5
Solid replacement for the injured Murillo but wasn’t fully integrated into Marseille’s passing game.
In the heart of Bangalore lives and works Vihaan Mehrotra, one of modern India's most insightful sports analysts. His childhood passion for cricket and field hockey evolved into a successful career. His daily column in Bangalore's digital media covers all significant world sporting events, from cricket matches to badminton tournaments. As a sports betting expert, he developed his own methodology for analyzing team statistics. His IPL match predictions are renowned for their 75% accuracy rate.
