Marseille (AFP)

Olympique de Marseille only avoided at the last second a new snub at home against Metz (1-1), Saturday for the 5th day of Ligue 1, but stalled.

Nothing is going on in Marseille: the bars and restaurants will close because of the Covid-19 and the OM are no longer feasting.

Fortunately Morgan Sanson avoided the worst by equalizing just before closing (90 + 5).

A small miracle, because three minutes earlier Steve Mandanda saved the ball 2-0 in front of Digbo Maïga (90 + 2)!

Already against Lille a goal in the last five minutes, from Valère Germain, had avoided a defeat at the Vélodrome in a match where Losc had shaken OM.

A cross header from Ibrahima Niane (71) deepened the doubts of a too cutesy OM, not helped by its offensive leaders.

The Marseillais did not benefit at all from their series of three home matches in ten days: they took only 2 points, with the defeat against Saint-Étienne (2-0).

The accounting and psychic benefits of the victory at Paris SG (1-0) were wasted.

And the next trip leads OM to their great rival from Lyon ...

The Olympians are stagnant in 6th place pending Sunday's results.

The Messins them only go back to 16th place.

Before Sanson's goal, they jumped to 9th place with a second victory in a row, after that against Reims (2-1).

- A problem at home -

OM really have a problem at home, they ended last season with a defeat and a draw at the Vélodrome before the interruption due to the pandemic.

The absence of supporters, with a few thousand spectators and a soundtrack of the turns, cannot be used as an explanation.

The current game is too poor, worrying less than a month before the return to the Champions League.

It was enough for Metz to be disciplined to contain the Olympians attacks and operate against.

OM played a little better than against Saint-Étienne and Lille, but inaccuracies hampered their best momentum.

The attacking trio missed too many things.

Dario Benedetto would have a less bad mark, he lacked success but obtained several chances.

But on the wings, Dimitri Payet and Florian Thauvin were transparent.

The first period was difficult, a bad habit this season, and the second is only saved by the final rush, with decisive entrants: a rise from Saïf Khaoui, a good cross from Nemanja Radonjic for the liberating goal.

- Payet messed up -

OM did not strike when they could.

Payet spoiled a nice one-two with Benedetto by shooting over (15).

The Argentinian also sent over a ball that was too whipped (36) and hit narrowly (86).

His best opportunity was a spectacular close-angle return (39), a sign of confidence, even if he was still blocked at zero, the fault also of a probably valid goal refused at the Park.

Very organized around their four-way defense, as for the victory against Reims, the Messins defended well and got out of the pressing with their efficient dribblers.

On one of their counters, Mandanda for the first time avoided for OM to find themselves behind at home for the third time in a row by going out in front of Ibrahima Niane to narrow the ball away from the knee (20).

But he did not flinch on the goal of the Lorraine center forward, left too alone between Duje Caleta-Car and Yuto Nagatomo to take a cross header from the left.

Already, against Lille, the captain, several times savior of his team, could not make a gesture on the goal of Luis Araujo.

Fortunately for OM, "Il Fenomeno" preserved the suspense on Maïga's ball.

But his OM attacks badly and defends weakly, we will have to pull ourselves together.

© 2020 AFP