“It will be the game of the year!”
The Olympique de Marseille coach did not go overboard when talking about the decisive meeting to come against Tottenham, Tuesday, November 1.
Igor Tudor was speaking then after the defeat of the Marseille club on the ground of Eintracht Frankfurt (2-1), on October 26, a defeat synonymous with a cleaver match to come against Spurs.
“We have this final in six days, we must not worry too much […].
For the supporters, it will be beautiful.
Considering how we have played so far, we deserve to win.
We are good enough to do it”, also explained the Olympian coach.
“We were brave, we can be proud.
The way we have shaken up all these teams makes me proud.
Players can be.”
So far, OM have had a contrasting European journey for this 2022-2023 edition: two defeats against Eintracht Frankfurt, two victories against Sporting Portugal and a defeat against Tottenham… while waiting for the return match at home on Tuesday.
In the first leg, the Phocaeans had not been unworthy in London and had even competed with the Spurs during the first half.
But the early expulsion of Mbemba (47th) had unbalanced the building, and OM, who at one point thought they could leave with the point of the draw, had finally cracked twice in five minutes (75th and 81st).
6 - 24% of teams having scored 6 points after 5 matches in a Champions League group stage have qualified for the round of 16 since the new formula introduced in 2003/04 (11/46).
Hope ?
#SGEOM pic.twitter.com/NgjI2Y9qv8
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 26, 2022
In this "hen of death", the Marseillais are last in their group (6 points) and will face the leading team, Tottenham (8 points).
At the same time, Sporting Portugal (2nd, 7 points) will play against Eintracht Frankfurt (3rd, 7 points).
Four teams that stand in two points: everyone will play the qualification in the round of 16 on Tuesday evening, but only two clubs will win the famous ticket for the final phase.
Several concerns to be erased for OM… including the start of the match
OM still have their destiny in hand, provided they win against Tottenham – who only need a draw to qualify.
If the two teams neutralize each other, the Phocaeans can finish 3rd (synonymous with qualifying for the Europa League) in the event of Sporting or Frankfurt winning the other match – Marseille has a better "goal average" than the two teams.
But if the Portuguese and German club draw and Marseille do not win, they will remain fourth… with regrets.
However, football is not just about statistics.
To hope to live a memorable evening, Olympique de Marseille will have to make a perfect copy on the green rectangle – which they failed to do during the first five matches.
Among the football concerns to be erased, the management of the start of the match will be essential.
In two Champions League matches (Sporting in the first leg and Frankfurt in the return), OM were weakened too quickly by conceding a goal each time during the first minutes of play. Tottenham has enough assets attackers (Kane, Son and Lucas) to cool the Vélodrome if the Phocians do not respond from the kick-off.
>> To read also: Champions League: too tight defensively, OM bows to Frankfurt
In defence, OM are hoping for the return of Éric Bailly, injured since the match against PSG on October 16.
The central defender “brings serenity behind”, as the team reminds us.
A quality that the Olympians lacked during their last European meeting.
OM's offensive animation will also be decisive: the Chilean striker Sanchez will be expected to concretize his team's chances with Harit probably in charge close to him.
Igor Tudor has quite a bit of variety on his attacking front... so to score he may also be able to count on his midfielder Guendouzi – who was the only scorer in the last game in Frankfurt.
Opposite, Tottenham has not been imperial since the start of the group stage of the Champions League.
If OM put the right ingredients into this match, the feat will be possible in a boiling Vélodrome stadium – sold out – which will only be waiting for an exploit to exult.
OM and the “hen final”, a story of I love you neither
During the 2007-2008 European edition, OM hosted Liverpool at home.
The objective is to win to pass.
But a penalty conceded at the start of the match (3rd) and a quick second goal (11th) refreshed the atmosphere.
In the end, the Olympian exploit does not take place and the Reds win 4-0.
During the 2011-2012 European edition, the Phocaeans travel to Dortmund on the last day of the group stage.
Yet second before the start of the match, OM found themselves virtually eliminated from the Champions League, led by Borussia while Olympiakos won against Arsenal (3-1) in the other match... but the Marseillais finally qualify on the wire thanks to two goals in the last minutes (85th and 87th, 2-3).
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