Moscow (AFP)

Dominant, again rather attractive but really ineffective in front of the opposing goal, OM let two points slip away on Thursday on the lawn of Lokomotiv Moscow for their first match in Group E of the Europa League, conceding a 1-1 draw. in the last moments.

Having started off on the right foot in Ligue 1 and very convincing Saturday in Monaco (2-0), the Marseillais wanted to keep the same dynamic on the European scene and hoped to be able to quickly leave behind the disastrous Champions League of last season, concluded with three poor points in six matches.

The case seemed well under way on the lawn of Lokomotiv, the club of the monopoly of Russian railways, since three minutes from the end Marseille led 1-0, played 11 against 10 and had dominated since the kick off. mail.

But by dint of not driving the point home, of too soft strikes in bad choice as the approach of Guilherme's goal, OM got trapped, on a strike from afar from Anjorin which offered Lokomotiv a point quite unexpected.

Because previously the evening had been almost exclusively Marseille.

With Mandanda back on the bench and Payet still too close to start, OM started the match in a 4-1-4-1 pattern with Rongier right side when his team was defending, that is to say roughly never in the first half hour.

Provençal domination was then very clear, with a block positioned very high and an overwhelming possession of the ball.

But in this configuration, against Muscovites grouped together in their 30 meters, the young Bamba Dieng did not have the same spaces as against Monaco and the lack of a real center forward prevented OM from really hurting.

- Under monstrous -

Jorge Sampaoli's players had opportunities nonetheless, with a crushed strike from Dieng on the outside of the post (8th), an attempt by Guendouzi after an excellent movement launched by Under and relayed by Harit (28th), a header stung from Saliba (39th) or another from Gerson, too soft after a very good ball from Under (43rd).

Cengiz Under transforms a penalty awarded to Marseille on the lawn of Lokomotiv Moscow, September 16, 2021 Alexander NEMENOV AFP

In the end, OM in the first half was again very good, but a little less fiery than in Monaco.

This lack of breath allowed the Muscovites, all the same very shy, to afford the best opportunity with a shot on the post signed Smolov (31st), on an action where neither Alvaro, captain for one night, nor Pau Lopez did not seem flawless.

But the Marseillais were really superior and their domination resumed even more after the break, to finally materialize shortly before the hour mark, on a monstrous acceleration of Under, launched in one touch by Guendouzi, remarkable Thursday.

At the time, the Turk managed a form of Grand Slam, with the penalty obtained, a second yellow card for the side Tiknizyan, already warned in the first period for a foul on the same Under, and a nice strong strike under the bar , on the penalty, to put OM in the lead (59th).

Lokomotiv players celebrate their unexpected equalization against Marseille in the Europa League, September 16, 2021 in Moscow Alexander NEMENOV AFP

Then, OM controlled but without bothering to conclude.

He was punished for this and will perhaps regret it because, in the new formula of the C3, only the first of each group will go directly to the round of 16.

The match in Moscow still reassured the intentions of the Marseillais who, obviously and despite the density of the calendar, intend to play Europe very seriously.

Anyway, it's hard to imagine Jorge Sampaoli not doing something thoroughly.

© 2021 AFP