Marseille

PLAYER RATINGS | Reims 3-1 Marseille: Nakamura and Diakhon dent OM Champions League hopes

Marseille’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League took an enormous blow on Saturday afternoon as a medical Reims aspect claimed their first victory below Samba Diawara.

THE MATCH

Olympique de Marseille returned to motion following the worldwide break and had been trying to get again to successful methods towards Stade de Reims after a 3-1 defeat on the Parc des Princes. With the race for Europe tightening following Strasbourg’s win over Lyon (4-2) over Lyon on Friday night, it was crucial for Roberto De Zerbi’s males to enter the ultimate quarter of the season with a win below their belts. The truth is, with Marseille’s six rivals for the European spots in motion this weekend, it might be the right alternative to search out some respiratory room within the seek for Champions League soccer. However Reims would rip up that script on Saturday afternoon…

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Roberto De Zerbi’s males began the sport extremely excessive up the pitch, as Reims dropped right into a low block of two inflexible defensive strains. Dominating early possession, Amine Gouiri obtained the primary half-chance after Adrien Rabiot’s cushioned header to set him up, however the Algerian’s strike was blocked by a mix of Okumu and Kipré. After weathering the preliminary storm which noticed OM maintain 86% of possession, Reims managed to interrupt out of their defensive dugout and begin to transfer up the pitch with Nakamura and Ito’s driving runs.

Reims rip up the script

Six video games and over 11 hours of soccer with no purpose, Reims would handle to interrupt the curse and get forward proper on the level they had been below most stress. An extended sweeping ball discovered Diakhon on the correct aspect, who managed to search out Keito Nakamura. The Japan worldwide discovered some area and shifted to the correct earlier than firing dwelling previous Rulli to place the Champagne area aspect forward.

Adrien Rabiot’s header was denied on the road solely minutes later from Amine Gouiri’s nook, as Akieme’s header stopped what regarded like a sure purpose to get Les Phocéens again into the sport. Half-time got here and De Zerbi ran the modifications as Pol Lirola and Quentin Merlin got here off for Ismaël Bennacer and Amar Dedic to make their entry within the second interval.

But it was substitute Amar Dedic who was at fault for shedding the ball to Nakaruma, and the Japan worldwide merely performed Diakhon in behind who offered the end previous a helpless Geronimo Rulli to double Reims’ lead. And it wouldn’t cease there, Reims would hit on the counter assault as soon as extra and this time it was Valentin Atangana who skipped previous the OM defence and chipped the ball previous Rulli.

Valentin Rongier managed to get on the scoresheet with an excellent strike from the center of the field however it might be too little too late for Les Olympiens, who fell to a 3rd straight defeat and have dented their hope of Champions League soccer subsequent season.

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STADE DE REIMS PLAYER RATINGS

Yehvann Diouf – 8

A assured efficiency from the Reims keeper who used his stature to take the stress off his aspect, gathering crosses and making a number of stops regardless of not essentially being examined by OM. He would, nonetheless, be dissatisfied to not hold the clear sheet however nonetheless aided Reims to an important three factors within the dying minutes of the sport with a number of high-quality stops.

Aurélio Buta – 5

Joseph Okumu – 6

Cédric Kipré – 6

Sergio Akieme – 6

Mamadou Diakhon – 7

The 19-year-old stepped up towards Reims, discovering the area and discovering Nakamura for Champagne aspect’s opener. He then obtained concerned within the motion himself with a relaxed end previous Rulli earlier than being taken off within the second interval.

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Valentin Atangana – 6

Mory Gbane – 5

Amadou Koné – 5

Keito Nakamura – 7

The Japan worldwide was the important thing outlet for the hosts, and recorded the best distance run through the recreation (12km). It was clear to see he was all over the place when Reims wanted him most, scoring an aesthetic opener earlier than successful the ball to arrange Diakhon for the second.

Junya Ito – 6

OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE PLAYER RATINGS

Geronimo Rulli – 3

Pol Lirola – 4

Leonardo Balerdi – 4

Derek Cornelius – 4

Quentin Merlin – 4

Geoffrey Kondogbia – 3

Valentin Rongier – 5

Luis Henrique – 3

Adrien Rabiot – 4

Mason Greenwood – 2

In his return to the beginning XI, the Englishman began nicely initially and regarded sharp. But his stage dropped decrease and decrease as the sport went on, positioned deep to try to create an affect in possession however in the end not arriving to create something of substance. He nonetheless has all the things to show to De Zerbi if he desires to achieve success long-term at Marseille.

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Amine Gouiri – 2

Regardless of a couple of probabilities within the first interval the Algerian was fully absent within the second half, a lot within the picture of the remainder of OM as they conceded twice to make a large mountain to climb towards Reims. A scarcity of motion within the remaining third actually harm Les Olympiens, and Gouiri was responsible of it greater than most.

Others:

Amar Dedic – 4

Neal Maupay – 4

Bennacer – 5

MATCH REACTION 

Valentin Atangana (Reims): “We knew we needed to shut off the within passing lanes. It does us numerous good towards a giant crew like Marseille, and we deserved it as we speak. Nicely executed to the entire crew, we held it collectively defensively and we should always have fun it tonight.” 

Adrien Rabiot (Marseille): “It’s dangerous for us nevertheless it was additionally dangerous to point out this spirit right here. I really feel like there are some gamers who don’t need to play within the Champions League.”

“In duels we weren’t current. That they had two weapons and that was set-pieces and counter assaults. We will’t defend like that. We have to have one other mentality if we need to attain the Champions League, we have to have need. It’s not a query of taking part in in a low block or not, it’s nicely above that.”

| George Boxall