Wednesday at a press conference, Jorge Sampaoli had honestly admitted that it was not quite a question this week of taking the matches one after the other.

There is a real Ligue 1 summit on Sunday against the Aiglons, the second against the third, and it had to be taken into account.

So in addition to Payet, suspended, the Argentinian technician left warm, on the bench, players who should start on Sunday at the Vélodrome, such as Kamara, Gerson or Milik.

Even with this revised 11, the memory of the first leg, very clearly dominated, suggested that OM had a little margin when it came to finding the Basel side.

But the goal conceded at the Vélodrome, which had seemed like a godsend for the Swiss, finally weighed heavily, the Marseillais never being really calm.

In a very good atmosphere, with many OM supporters chanting "Aux Armes" in response to the incessant chants of the FCB ultras, OM got their match off to a good start, driven by the activity of Gueye, author of a nice shot from the 9th minute.

Bakambu also threatened Lindner twice on the same action (26th), but the Basel people were also dangerous and Mandanda, confirmed in the Europa League Conference rather than Pau Lopez, was effective against Millar (14th).

Gerson changes everything

OM were therefore not perfectly calm but could have taken cover when Harit obtained a penalty after a counter-attack launched by Bakambu.

But everything was missed, the shot from the Moroccan, too weak and pushed back by Lindner, then the resumption of Bakambu, who had followed but slipped and hit above (35th).

After the break, the result confirmed the superiority of OM but also their inability to translate it to the score, as when Lirola struck above (54th) or Bakambu shot Lindner (61st).

And in a scenario already experienced often this season, Marseille was punished for its inefficiency.

Basel indeed equalized by the former Niçois Ndoye well placed at the far post after a cross from Esposito, an action which exposed the weakness of the Marseille side, Lirola on the right and, above all, Luan Peres on the left.

Marseille coach Jorge Sampaoli replaces his players against Basel at the Saint Jakob stadium, March 17, 2022 Fabrice COFFRINI AFP

At that moment, OM were no longer qualified.

But Sampaoli had weapons on the bench and that made the difference.

Gerson, Milik and Kamara came in and the Brazilian, in great form, made an immediate impact.

On the left, he eliminated Tavares and offered a perfect cross to Under, scorer with a volley from the left (1-1, 74th).

This goal was celebrated everywhere in the stands of the Parc Saint-Jacques and was even greeted by a thunderous "We are at home" coming from the bend where the most French supporters were gathered.

Marseille then controlled the game and even offered themselves a rare pleasure in added time: a goal from Rongier, whose inefficiency in shots has become almost legendary over the matches (90 + 2).

Between their two meetings against Basel and their clear success in Brest, OM therefore chained three victories and chased away the beginning of the crisis which had sanctioned the defeat against Monaco.

But everything is put into play on Sunday against Nice.

© 2022 AFP