Match Focus: Marvellous Marseille Denied Again by Lyon

If an end had to come to Marseille’s scintillating winning run of eight matches, it was probably always destined to be at Stade de Gerland against Lyon, in the derby of the two Olympiques. Exactly the same had happened on their last such run of successes, when Bernard Lacombe’s side defeated Rolland Courbis’ team 2-1 back in November 1998.

While Marcelo Bielsa and company might have sympathy in lamenting their luck – they had 56% of possession, edged the shot count 11-10 and conceded Yoann Gourcuff’s fine winner against the run of play – there can’t be room for too many regrets. Marseille were the slightly less “clinical” (to quote their captain Steve Mandanda after the match) of two courageous sides who produced a scrap, if not a silky spectacle, fitting for such a hotly-anticipated occasion. 

The first half had already made clear that Bielsa’s Marseille had not been in the thick of such a battle as this since they hit their winning stride – 29 fouls were committed in total during the first 45 minutes, as quarter was neither asked nor given. 

While his side left Gerland with plenty of credit, Bielsa also faces a number of questions as he heads towards the middle of the season. Having drawn with Bastia and lost to Montpellier in the opening two games of the season, OM have still not won a game in which they have gone behind this season.

The goal with which they did so at Gerland was a thing of beauty, speaking clearly of this young Lyon side’s mutual understanding, as Gourcuff expertly finished off Alexandre Lacazette’s smart pass on a swift break. Lacazette, as much a creative conduit as a goalscorer for Lyon, provided 5 key passes during the course of evening. 

It was always likely to be on a rapid transition that Marseille would be undone in this period, their best of the match. At the point where Gourcuff scored, the Ligue 1 leaders were almost overwhelmingly dominant, turning up the pressure that has characterised their irresistible form so far in this campaign. While the first half had been evenly matched, OM had 4 efforts on target (to none by OL) and hit the post via Benjamin Mendy in the period between the interval and Gourcuff’s strike. The home side’s goalkeeper Anthony Lopes (rated man-of-the-match, with 8.24) and Milan Bisevac repelled those efforts from Mendy, André Ayew, and league top scorer André-Pierre Gignac.

Although underpinned by the excellent Lopes, Lyon’s collective defensive effort was a very good one against a side that arrived as the league’s top scorers (25) as well as leaders. The only sector of Hubert Fournier’s team that isn’t largely constituted of youth academy products (only Samuel Umtiti, of the four, has come through the club), Lyon’s defence is a good match of complimentary attributes. 

Making nine tackles between them, they were well-served by Umtiti’s clearances (9), Bisevac’s interceptions (5) and Christophe Jallet’s all-round game (3 tackles and 2 interceptions). Left-back Henri Bédimo, primarily recognised for his attacking skills having provided 10 assists last season, made 4 tackles. In midfield, captain Maxime Gonalons’ 5 tackles and Jordan Ferri’s mastery in possession (94.3% success) shows how reliable the team’s spine is at present, having conceded 44 times last season.

While Marseille retain a four-point lead at the top, there may well be a cost to this wearying struggle. The depth of their resources is about to be revealed, certainly. Perhaps that won’t be the case against Lens at the Vélodrome next Sunday, where one would expect Les Phocéens to climb straight back on their winning horse without too many dramas (even allowing for an excellent victory at Toulouse this weekend by Antoine Kombouaré’s side). 

It’s Le Classique, against Paris Saint-Germain on November 9th, which is already on Marseillais minds, having clearly been at the front of Ayew’s when he was booked in the game’s final quarter at Gerland. A studs-up crunch on Bisevac means he will now sit out the PSG match (along with Jérémy Morel, who was also cautioned), something that we were immediately made acutely aware of as the incredulous Ghana midfielder pointed to the tears welling in his eyes as he faced referee Lionel Jaffredo. 

If Jaffredo had little option, it was something that Bielsa must always have assumed he would have to plan for at some point. Ayew’s industry and desire makes him ideal for the Argentinian’s style, but it is inevitable that such aggression will lead to the odd slip. Ayew has made an average of 2.1 tackles per match this season, more than any other non-specialist defender and interestingly, slightly more than Gianelli Imbula (1.9), who plays in such an involved position in central midfield. 

Morel’s absence is somewhat more difficult to quantify until the point comes when Bielsa has to do without him. Not exactly a standout under previous regimes at the club, his performances as ever-present is testament to the success of the coach’s system and his ability to maximise potential. The 30-year-old left-back – used on the left of a three by Bielsa – rates 7.28 this season, the best of his Ligue 1 career. 

The question of his replacement is a troubling one, though, with the teenager Stéphane Sparagna trusted by Bielsa by unconvincing on his appearances to date, rating 6.38. Doria, signed from Botafogo on deadline day and the centre of a storm after Bielsa publically said he had not sanctioned the defender’s signing, has yet to play a single minute in Ligue 1. In 10 games for Botafogo in the Brasilerão this year, he averaged 1.8 tackles and 2.7 interceptions, and is a capable passer. His weakness in aerial duels is a cause for concern, though.  

Where Lyon and Marseille go from this compelling contest really is open to conjecture; OL lack deep resources, though the lack of a European campaign (like Marseille) should help to conserve energy. Bielsa’s OM are yet to show their capacity to bounce back. For now, just having these famous names capable of capturing France’s attention with such an occasion is good enough.

How quickly do you think Marseille will bounce back from this defeat? Let us know in the comments below