Jorge Sampaoli had spoken Tuesday of "key day" and he was not mistaken.
Before going to Reims on Sunday, where their infernal rhythms of a club still engaged on two fronts will continue, OM have indeed widened a small gap.
Behind him, they are now three, Rennes, Strasbourg and Monaco, to share the third step of the podium.
But they are now six lengths behind Sampaoli's team!
OM are not yet in the Champions League, of course, but with five games to go, it is not a negligible problem.
Sunday's defeat at the Parc des Princes therefore already seems relegated to the rank of incident and, failing to play for the title, OM also forced PSG to wait a few more days before winning a new title in L1.
Marseille all the same got scared against Nantes, who undoubtedly have the Coupe de France final on May 7 in mind, but who nevertheless delivered a solid match and poisoned the life of OM.
outside Pallois
Jorge Sampaoli wants to have control of the game and possession of the ball.
In the first period, his team had both, and in considerable proportions with more than 82% possession.
He may have wondered then how his men managed to go down 2-1.
The Nantes people did what they had to do, comfortably seated on their line of five defenders and threatening OM with a few counterattacks, the terror of Sampaoli.
But OM still helped the Canaries with their two goals.
The first was thus scored with a header by Girotto on a corner conceded in a rather absurd way by Luan Peres while trying to save a touch at … 50m from his goals (1-0, 26th).
The joy of Brazilian defender Andrei Girotto, after opening the scoring for Nantes against Marseille, during the 33rd day of Ligue 1, April 20, 2022 at the Stade Vélodrome Christophe SIMON AFP
As for the second, it came when Marseille was perhaps still in the euphoria of the equalizer, successful by Payet from the penalty spot after a more than clumsy intervention by Pallois on Kamara (1-1, 39th).
On the following action, the same Pallois was transformed for a moment into Modric for an unexpected cross from outside the left, badly repelled by Pau Lopez then Saliba and taken over by Coco (2-1, 42nd).
The joy of midfielder Marcus Coco, after restoring the advantage to Nantes against Marseille, during the 33rd day of Ligue 1, April 20, 2022 at the Stade Vélodrome Christophe SIMON AFP
milik back
The score at the break was obviously severe for Marseille, who had also spoiled a lot, in particular by Harit well launched in depth by Kamara (13th), or by Bakambu, whose shot went along the line without ever wanting to enter (29th).
But after the break, Marseille resumed their march forward and did the main thing by quickly equalizing on a second penalty, whistled for a foul by Fabio on Gerson, and again transformed by Payet, imperturbable (2-2, 55th).
Marseille midfielder Dimitri Payet converts his 2nd penalty and equalizes against Nantes, during the 33rd day of Ligue 1, April 20, 2022 at the Stade Vélodrome Christophe SIMON AFP
OM then dominated, pushed, hit, and deprived Nantes of balls, which the Kombouaré team did not really seek but which they would have at least needed to breathe a little.
With the entry of Milik, absent for a month and who quickly worried Lafont with a fine strike (74th), the Marseille pressure was even stronger.
She was logically rewarded with a third goal, signed Harit on a pass from Gerson, two of the best Marseillais of the match (3-2, 75th).
The joy of Moroccan midfielder Amine Harit, after scoring the 3rd bu for OM against Nantes, during the 33rd day of Ligue 1, April 20, 2022 at the Stade Vélodrome Christophe SIMON AFP
The calendar remains busy, the pace does not weaken, but neither do OM, semi-finalists of the Europa League Conference, second strongest in L1 and who can dream of a superb end to the season.
© 2022 AFP