Serious, efficient and far superior to their evening opponents, OM temporarily regained the lead in Ligue 1 with an easy win on Friday at Nice (1-5) to calmly prepare for the all-important reception of Newcastle on Tuesday in the Champions League.
The Marseillais team leaves the Côte d’Azur with a first podium finish, which can only be surpassed by Paris Saint-Germain, if they are successful on Saturday night against Le Havre. In contrast, for Nice, things didn’t get any better. Ninth before another game on this 13th day, the Aiglons are fresh from three consecutive defeats in the championship and often looked helpless on Friday.
After an even and noisy start to the match by the Nice ultras, who were celebrating their group’s 40th anniversary, OM quickly took the lead. The opening score was signed by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, more lively and attentive than Melvin Bard to recover Pavard’s deflected ball from Mason Greenwood’s corner (1-0, 11th).
The merciless Mason Greenwood
The Englishman then scored Marseille’s own second goal with a right shot that was deflected by Bard, who endured a very difficult first 45 periods (2-0, 33rd). The start of a general brawl after Greenwood’s goal then briefly revived Aiglons who had several chances to score and eventually showed that Jeffrey De Lange was a completely reliable substitute goalkeeper.
On many occasions, the Dutch goalkeeper outwitted Terem Moffi so that Greenwood was finally on target. In contrast to the Nigerian, the Englishman was ruthless: in the 53rd minute, he left Juma Bah on the penalty spot with a hook and acceleration before beating Yehvann Diouf with a perfect cross shot from the right (3-0).
Five minutes later, Timothy Weah, who was clearly more than valuable, added to the score after a fine move animated by Aubameyang and Emerson Palmieri (4-0) and it was all over. Mohamed-Ali Cho saved the honors with a header, which was well served by Sofiane Diop (4-1, 63rd), but OM came back hard when their Gabonese striker showed Paixao how to set up a two-on-one. Holding no grudge, the Gabonese served the Brazilian and Marseille won 5-1.
At the end of the match, fireworks launched by the Nice ultras disrupted the match for a few moments, but everything was fine. We know that the European Cup has not gone well for the Aiglons and on Friday, the opponents are clearly European caliber.
