But Marseille definitely had a good time to complete a match without shaking and showed again on Thursday that they remained fragile behind and inconstant in front.

While Sunday's defeat against Monaco (1-0) had caused a strong rise in fever around the Provençal club, this success and a very encouraging performance will still do good, even if Marseille should in fact already have almost completed its qualification.

At the break, OM only led by a single goal, which given their very clear domination reflected both a certain lack of success and recurring inefficiency.

Started under the whistles addressed to Jorge Sampaoli, not deafening but not shy either, the game has indeed long been entirely mastered by the Marseillais.

Argentinian coach of Marseille, Jorge Sampaoli, during the round of 16 first leg of the Europa League against Basel, March 10, 2022 at the Stade Vélodrome Nicolas TUCAT AFP

Scored with a pretty panenka from the penalty spot by Milik (19th) after a foul by the former Niçois Pelmard on Guendouzi, the Marseille goal was the minimum reward for a great first period.

total domination

The Pole could thus have added one or two on offerings from Payet, wasted by a face-to-face loss against the goalkeeper (37th) or a missed header (39th).

Marseille midfielder Dimitri Payet, struggling with Basel defender Dan Ndoye, during the round of 16 first leg of the Europa League, March 10, 2022 at the Stade Vélodrom Nicolas TUCAT AFP

Under had previously hit the post (8th) and the panic was constant in the Swiss area as soon as OM approached it, that is to say very often.

At the end of this first one-sided period, Mandanda, chosen to keep the goals as in the previous round, still managed a good save on a shot from Ndoye, another former Nice player, but it was the first time that he had been crossing an opposing striker since leaving the locker room.

But Basel does not have the same attacking qualities of Monaco, which on Sunday, after also suffering a lot before the break, had set back Marseille before punishing it (1-0).

So OM resumed their domination and the list of opportunities grew, with a shot over Guendouzi in a good position (54th), a new post hit by Milik (61st) or a save on his line from Tavares ahead of Gerson (58), left winger on Thursday and who therefore continues to explore each area of ​​the field according to Sampaoli's compositions.

Mandanda saves Rongier

The break goal finally arrived just over 20 minutes from the end on a ride from Rongier, whose shot was badly repelled by Lindner, which Milik took advantage of to score twice and his 8th goal in seven European games this season (2-0, 68th).

The joy of the Polish striker from Marseille, Arkadiusz Milik, after his double against Basel, during the round of 16 first leg of the Europa League, on March 10, 2022 at the Stade Vélodrome Nicolas TUCAT AFP

But as nothing is simple at the moment for Marseille, the Sampaoli players managed to put Basel back in the game when they seemed to have absolute control.

A poor alignment from Luan Peres, who had just entered, first offered the 2-1 goal to Esposito (79th), a former child prodigy of Italy and Inter Milan, who lost the thread of his young career.

It then took a sprint and a desperate dive from Mandanda to avoid an absurd own goal from Rongier and OM had really lost the thread.

Marseille midfielder Valentin Rongier thanks his goalkeeper Steve Mandanda for avoiding an own goal against Basel, in the round of 16 first leg of the Europa League, on March 10, 2022 at the Stade Vélodrom Nicolas TUCAT AFP

In the end, it's difficult to know what this first leg will represent in OM's season.

He offers him a simple option for the return match, but the Marseille game seemed to be in progress.

While the atmosphere around the club was tense, the crisis is also at least postponed.

But we will have to wait for Sunday's trip to Brest and then the return to Basel to find out if it is really ruled out.

© 2022 AFP