The atmosphere was exceptional all evening at the Vélodrome, but the deliverance was all the stronger as OM scared themselves for nothing by conceding a goal from Lemina in added time (90+2), so that the public was already thinking only of celebrating its players and making fun of the rival from Nice.

OM held on, in the end, and the last "Aux Armes" shook the stadium, which is still dreaming on two fronts, qualifying for the Champions League and the Conference Europa League, in which Marseille will play the quarter-finals.

There were a lot of things at stake on Sunday at the Vélodrome, starting with the desire for revenge on the Marseille side, of course, after the incidents of the first leg.

Before kick-off, to settle the bad memories, the presidents Pablo Longoria and Jean-Pierre Rivère greeted each other for a long time, like Dimitri Payet and Christophe Galtier at the edge of the field.

Without laterals

For the Marseillais, it was also a question of erasing the slap received in the Coupe de France (4-1).

This Nice success had hurt OM very badly and had made the Aiglons realize that they could have a great season and that their ambition to play in the Champions League was legitimate.

But the real challenge was in the standings, with the much desired second step of the podium.

Because since he is not in front, even with a demobilized Paris SG, the suspense is there, for the attribution of this second place which is perhaps not worth much in the football history books but which weighs heavily in the books of accounts.

In the afternoon, Rennes settled there after demolishing Metz (6-1) but knew that they would have to make way for the winner of the evening shock, if there was one.

The team that wanted to win the most was undoubtedly OM, carried by the fury of the Vélodrome, filled with 65,000 exclusively Marseille supporters.

With a team full of midfielders and without any full-backs, a new innovation from Jorge Sampaoli, Marseille had control of the game and after a quarter of an hour, Nice, who had probably not come to undertake big -thing, had not chained three passes in the opposing 30 meters.

Decisive Gerson

Marseille, for their part, put more ferocity into the pressing than rhythm in the passes and suffered from some inaccuracies when approaching the goal.

Saliba still worried Benitez with a header (26th), before harmless attempts from Under (35th) then Payet (39th), but Nice seemed to manage.

At the end of the first period, the Aiglons still made a mistake with too brutal and unnecessary intervention by Todibo on Under in the area.

Milik converted the penalty with confidence and OM took the lead (1-0, 45+3).

As often, Marseille was less convincing after the break and only imperfectly controlled the game.

Gouiri with a header off target then Delort three times (65th, 71st, 74th) were thus threatening.

OM, for their part, played very badly against the counter-attacks offered by Nice's attacking efforts, until a perfect cross from Gerson, more decisive with each match, towards the head of Bakambu (2-0, 89th).

Lemina's goal was therefore a last thrill, but OM are therefore second on Sunday, with a head start on Rennes.

Nice for its part slips to 4th place, two points behind the Bretons.

The battle has only begun.

© 2022 AFP