It was the "match of the year" for OM at the Vélodrome stadium, Wednesday November 1, against Tottenham.
For this last day of the group stage of the Champions League, the Olympians fell at home against Spurs (1-2) and said goodbye to European competition, finishing fourth in their group.
OM got into their game well from the first minutes and quickly created their first chance (3rd): on a fine cross from the outside of Harit's foot, Sanchez headed the ball, which grazed the post Lloris.
In defense, Tottenham plays in 5-4-1 and the Phocaeans have the difficult task of finding a solution to break the London lock.
The first quarter of an hour is rather to the advantage of OM, but the Spurs are well in place in defense and leave the game to their opponents.
This does not prevent OM from creating a new opportunity (19th).
Tavares finds Sanchez in the box, the Chilean arms a shot from the left, turning suddenly, and Lloris deflects for a corner.
The Spurs, who struggled to exist offensively during this first act, suffered a blow by losing their South Korean striker Son in a duel with Mbemba.
OM continued their momentum and created a new big opportunity (33rd).
Veretout receives a ball at the far post and sends a half-volley from the left, released by a very nice horizontal from Lloris who has a firm hand.
The Olympians continue with the same intentions, but Gigot's header from this corner (42nd) lacks precision.
We are heading towards half-time with a goalless draw... but that was without counting on Mbemba emerging at the far post and sending an angry header into the nets of Lloris (1-0, 45th + 2).
This goal concretizes Marseille's good first period, and OM can then see the round of 16.
Tottenham's smug awakening
Tottenham, feverish in the first period, returns with completely different intentions.
The Spurs quickly send a shiver through the Marseille area (49th): on a cross, Kane is close to taking the ball back but Lopez deflects the trajectory with the end of the glove.
They will not be long in achieving their first real highlight of the match (54th, 1-1): on a free kick from Perisic sent into the Marseille area, Lenglet sends an uncrossed header which leaves Lopez no chance.
Despite this fine strike from Harit which licks the crossbar of Lloris (59th), OM struggle in this second period largely dominated by Spurs.
And Tottenham also does not go far from the second goal (63rd): on a center released by Lopez, Kane finds himself with the ball in his feet but does not send it into the empty goal.
Two minutes later, the English striker sends the ball into the Marseille net (65th), but it is offside.
OM are struggling physically in this second act against Spurs who have found their rhythm compared to the first period.
Marseille coach Igor Tudor decides to bring in fresh blood with three changes (73rd), but this is not immediately visible in the game of the Olympians.
Worse, the Spurs have several opportunities to end the game, but the crossbar from Lopez on a strike from Höjbjerg (81st) and a fine defensive tackle from Mbemba on Kane (82nd) – who was leaving to present himself in a duel against Lopez – maintain the Marseillais in the game.
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