Metz (AFP)

A difficult evening for Marseille: the Phocaeans, who remained on six consecutive successes, conceded a draw in Metz (1-1) and lost their injury goalkeeper Steve Mandanda on Saturday during the 18th day of Ligue 1.

To add to the misfortune of OM fans, this misstep allowed the great rival, Paris SG, to win, without playing, the honorary title of autumn champion, which crowns the best team of the first leg.

But the evening could have been worse without the decisive intervention of his three replacements: Yohann Pelé pushed back the penalty of 2-0 from Habib Diallo (53rd) then Nemanja Radonjic equalized in the 70th - his 4th goal in his last five matches - in a Valère Germain center.

Uninspired, the Olympians had a poor first period before slightly raising the bar after the break. But it turned out to be insufficient to beat strong Messins.

They will console themselves with their place as dolphin of PSG, even if Lille, winner in the snatch of Montpellier Friday (2-1), returned to four lengths.

At Saint-Symphorien, OM found their goal scorer Dario Benedetto, who missed the match against Bordeaux (3-1) last weekend due to a thigh injury. But like his team, the Argentinian was very timid.

Metz was therefore the most dangerous in the first period. After an overflow on the left side, Diallo seeps into the surface and tries his luck in a very closed angle, but Steve Mandanda pushes back with authority (9th).

Shortly after, on a withdrawal from Dimitri Payet, the Marseille goalkeeper is very scared: he performs a control that is too long and Opa Nguette steals the ball from him, before collapsing in the area under the eyes of the referee, who does not flinch (25th).

But on the action, the French international goalkeeper injured his right ankle and had to give way to his lining Yohann Pelé a few minutes later (32nd).

- Radonjic still decisive -

After the meeting, André Villas-Boas was rather reassuring about the player's state of health, hoping at the microphone of Canal + that he "will be there against Nîmes" next Saturday.

We will have to wait until the 35th minute to see the first real Marseille opportunity: on a Payet cross, Sanson's volley is pushed back into a corner by Alexandre Oukidja.

Metz insisted against and ended up being rewarded: launched on the right, Fabien Centonze sent a cross to the far post for Nguette, who resumed victoriously (1-0, 40th).

Returning from the locker room, Villas-Boas launches Radonjic in place of Bouna Sarr to reinvigorate an apathetic offensive sector.

However, it is the Mosellans who benefit from a golden opportunity to double the bet on penalty but Pelé relaxes well on his right to repel Diallo's attempt (53rd).

Little by little, OM take their heads out of the water and monopolize the ball against Messins who back away. Benedetto, non-existent until then, sounds the revolt but misses the frame by little (67th).

The third opportunity is the right one for Marseille: Germain, who came into play a minute earlier, overflows on the right and sends a center back for Radonjic, who flattened (1-1, 70th).

The end of the game is very unbridled but neither of the two teams manages to take the advantage. Marvin Gakpa saved his team by clearing a line from Germain (86 ') on his line.

Disappointing, OM will settle for a point and now cross their fingers so as not to be deprived of their captain for too long.

© 2019 AFP