"You have to win absolutely";
"This is the last card".
The chorus had already been sung before the 4th day, and Marseille's fourth draw, against Lazio Rome.
But Thursday it was true, OM really had to win to keep a chance to finish at the top of Group E and go straight to the round of 16 of the C3.
Jorge Sampaoli's players, penalized in particular by a terrible first half hour, stayed very far and can not even finish second, Lazio having won on the ground of Lokomotiv Moscow.
Marseille coach Argentinian Jorge Paoli protests against German referee Tobias Stieler during the Europa League Conference group match against Galatasaray on November 25, 2021 in Istanbul OZAN KOSE AFP
For OM, Europe is not yet over.
He will host Lokomotiv Moscow on the last group day and a draw will be enough for him to reach the play-offs of the new C4, a modest consolation prize.
More bottles
The sanction is logical because this time, unlike three of the first matches, Marseille was really not better than its opponent, carried by the fury of its supporters, who made the whistles fall in torrent as soon as a Marseillais had the ball , with a few decibels as a bonus when it came to Guendouzi, spotted by the Stambouliotes after some tensions in the first leg.
A few projectiles and water bottles were also sent from the stands, as is now a bad habit when OM play, but the match was able to continue, thanks in particular to the intervention of the goalkeeper of Galatasaray Muslera, who very clearly made it clear to his supporters what he thought of their behavior.
Marseille midfielder Matteo Guendouzi is about to take a corner against Galatasaray during their Europa League group match on November 25, 2021 in Istanbul OZAN KOSE AFP
But much more than the hostile atmosphere, it was the absences of Payet and Rongier which weighed very heavily, like that of Under, insufficiently recovered and who did not play.
The Marseillais are also pursued by a fairly spectacular lack of success since the start of the European League and they have again touched the amounts twice in the first period, by Luan Peres (20th) then Dieng (42nd).
But the 4-4-2 inaugurated by Sampaoli to try to compensate for the absences did not work and the failures were numerous, starting with that of Kamara, whose two losses of ball resulted in a volley on the bar of Diagne (11th) and at the opening of Cicaldau's score in the following minute (1-0, 12th).
The joy of Romanian midfielder from Galatasaray, Alexandru Cicaldau (2nd d), after opening the scoring against Marseille, during their group match of the Europa League, November 25, 2021 in Istanbul OZAN KOSE AFP
In camera
The Turks also found immense spaces on the Marseille left side, theoretically protected by Luan Peres and Gueye but in fact left abandoned.
And it is very logical that Galatasaray doubled the bet, Caleta-Car sending in his own goal a ball from Cicaldau (2-0, 30th).
The result was not better and the Turks still scored two easy goals, by Feghouli (64th) and Babel (83rd), abandoned by the opposing defense.
After each of these two goals, OM reacted with Milik, first on a penalty converted into two stages (69th, 3-1), then with a close header (85th, 4-2).
Polish striker from Marseille, Arkadiusz Milik, brings the ball back to the center of the field after scoring the second goal against Galatasaray, during the group match of the Europa League, November 25, 2021 in Istanbul OZAN KOSE AFP
But the Marseille set was very insufficient, with some puzzles (Gerson) and persistent misforms, like Lirola or Milik, very disappointing despite his double.
This group E was difficult and OM never quite took the measure and after a disastrous campaign in the Champions League last season, that of C3 was not good either this year.
OM have a European "last card" to play, but it will therefore be in C4.
Before that, he will find the L1 and the Stade Vélodrome behind closed doors, Sunday against Troyes.
© 2021 AFP