Better than in the first leg and no doubt also better than their opponent, OM nevertheless fell from a very high position on Tuesday by falling on penalties against Panathinaikos (1-0; 2-1; 5 pens to 3), from the 3rd preliminary round of the Champions League.
Each of the shots on goal was struck at 150 decibels, and probably even a little more for the last, transformed by Filip Mladenovic. But that was not enough to disturb the Greek strikers, all of whom were impeccable, unlike Matteo Guendouzi, whose mid-high strike was repelled by Alberto Brignoli from the start.
The international midfielder was the unfortunate of the evening, since it was also he who, after additional time in regulation time (90th + 9) and after an interminable intervention by the VAR, had been sanctioned with a penalty which allowed Panathinaikos to grab an unexpected extension.
Just before the penalty shootout, Marcelino then tried to bring in his substitute goalkeeper Ruben Blanco, but it didn’t work and OM and their new Spanish coach experienced a very painful first failure.
Because this elimination is very expensive, literally and figuratively, with a significant shortfall in economic terms and a sports season which takes on a very dark hue from August 15.
A fierce commitment first
This failure is also a stone in the garden of president Pablo Longoria and his right-hand man Javier Ribalta who, after the departure of Igor Tudor in June, have decided to change everything again this summer.
New players, new coach, new style of play radically opposed to that of last season, OM could not be ready for this deadline and they were not, at least in the first leg.
Because it was undoubtedly in Athens, when OM appeared very far from the level expected in European competition, that the outcome of this double confrontation was decided.
Returning to Marseille on Tuesday, in a stormy Velodrome, Marseille on the contrary did very well for a long time and seemed stronger than the “Pana”. But his evening turned on two goals disallowed, including one in extra time for a very small offside, an avalanche of goal opportunities and a wagon of ineffective corners. Opposite, there was nothing or almost nothing, just a penalty fell from the sky. And for OM, a ton of regrets.
Because the first Marseille period was almost perfect, with infinitely more rhythm and speed than a week ago. The first goal scored by Pierre-Eymerick Aubameyang in the second minute, then the double of the rookie-star of the summer just before the break (2-0, 45 + 1), should have been enough.
A twist of fate
But more than Panathinaikos, with its relative value, Marseille’s real adversary was time. Because this famous lack of time and preparation was felt gradually in the second period.
At first harmless, the Greeks finally came a little closer to Pau Lopez’s goal, while Marcelino asked his players, gestures in support, to remain compact, an instruction that a few tired legs found it difficult to respect. The blow of bamboo therefore came on a stroke of luck, a hand too high from Guendouzi on the second time from a corner, and a penalty converted by Ioannidis (2-1, 90th + 9).
For OM and their finances, which the group stage of the Europa League will hardly embellish, the blow is terrible. 3rd place in L1 is definitely a famous trap and the preliminary rounds of the Champions League a level too often impossible to cross for French football. Marcelino and Marseille, they still do not have time. Friday they go to Metz and they already have a lot to be forgiven.
2023-08-16 05:35:10
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