• Olympique de Marseille fulfilled their contract Thursday evening at the Vélodrome stadium by winning 3 goals to 1 against FK Qarabag, for the round of 16 first leg of the Europa League Conference.

  • But the Marseillais, contrary to their habits, were mistreated by the Azerbaijanis.

  • As Jorge Sampaoli acknowledged, Olympique de Marseille draws its salvation from the "finishing" of its attacking players.

At the Velodrome stadium,

A match unlike what Olympique de Marseille had accustomed us to.

Often dominating but unrealistic, the Marseillais were quite the opposite Thursday evening, at home, against the Azerbaijani club FK Qarabag, to finally snatch this victory (3-1) in the Europa League Conference.

Contrary to the Olympian staff who had analyzed and "knew this team very well", according to Jorge Sampaoli, the first minutes of the match surprised us as the two teams went blow for blow. 

And he finally had to wait until the very end of the first half to see Arkadiusz Milik come and plant a double in the space of two minutes (41st, 43rd).

First by taking it up twice, after a header pushed back by a defender, symbolizing all his desire to score.

Then by adjusting the goalkeeper, with all the mastery that characterizes him.

But two goals, finally, a little against the court of the game.

“Sadness for the goal conceded”

We thought the match folded, it was not.

Especially because of Qarabag's deep play, carried by his wingers Kady and Zoubir.

“It was complicated.

In the first half we didn't play well and in the second we didn't play at all.

It's a match where we were collectively dominated.

I was not surprised, we knew this team quite well.

It has international players, a very good collective game.

We knew it and tonight we were overwhelmed, ”analyzed Jorge Sampaoli.

Without an excellent Steve Mandanda, established for the first time in a very long time, OM could have taken several.

The OM legend proved to be imperial and made multiple stops.

"No, that doesn't surprise me.

I see him in training every day, he's a great professional and I'm very happy for him.

He had a very good match, he is a very appreciated person and player, a legend of this club, so I am happy that he had a very great match, "congratulated Pol Lirola in the conference of after game.

An imperial Mandanda, until the 85th minute.

Sampaoli had just made several changes, rather offensive, and the whole Vélodrome stadium was waiting for the third goal, but Kady brought down all these beautiful little people by reducing the score (85th).

“There is sadness for the goal conceded, but Qarabag deserved to score it,” admitted Jorge Sampaoli.

Milik, a double but angry at his exit

It was finally Dimitri Payet who came to restore order in the Olympian house by scoring an oh so important goal, after a broken kidney from Dieng (90th).

"We were overwhelmed footballingly by a very well-played team, we got out of it thanks to the finish," admitted the Argentine coach.

Number 10 had just replaced Arek Milik, who took his frustration out on being substituted on the water bottles.

“I did not see these gestures, cut Jorge Sampaoli to defuse the controversy.

I look at everyone's playing time.

Everyone must be fit and ready for all matches.

These changes were already planned, because we replay quickly.

I have the same relationship with him as with everyone else.

We are work colleagues, everyone has their role, and I have the same relationship with him as with the other players.

The most important thing is elsewhere, with this comfortable victory, which does not bode well, despite everything, for such an easy qualification for the round of 16 next Thursday in Baku.

“No, no, it's not enough, we saw how the match went today.

It's going to be a complicated match, we have to win there, ”warned Pol Lirola.

Sampaoli can be satisfied with having won by having rotated, before the reception of Clermont, and this trip of nearly 5,000 km on Thursday.

Sport

OM – FK Qarabag: The unstoppable Milik, and Payet give the Marseillais confidence before the return…

Sport

OM - Qarabag: Jorge Sampaoli, between the need for "survival" and "bar analysis"

  • Jorge Sampaoli

  • OM

  • Marseilles

  • Soccer

  • Europa League Conference

  • Sport

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