The European shock between Lens and Marseille turned to the advantage of the Sang & Or, winner with authority of the Marseillais at Bollaert (2-1) this Saturday during the 34th day of Ligue 1. The double blow for the players of Franck Haise , new dolphins of PSG.
The Bollaert stadium had taken out its clothes of light for a poster that looked like the Champions League. And as often this season, the Sang & Or supporters were spoiled even before kick-off, since Franck Haise’s men validated their place in the European Cup next year thanks to the defeat of Rennes on the lawn of Nice earlier in the afternoon.
On the ground, the mano a mano between the two teams was intense but the last word went to the Lensois (2-1), whose efficiency put both knees on the ground to the Marseillais, who lost big during this 34th day, falling on the third step of the podium, two points behind Lens, which again becomes runner-up to PSG four days before the end of the championship.
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Brilliance and Fofana
This duel that smells like Europe did not take long to get carried away. Best away team this season, Marseille believed Bollaert had been conditioned from the first minutes. On the lookout with a rough control of Danso, Alexis Sanchez thought to open the scoring, but the Chilean saw his efforts stopped by the VAR, which signaled a foul on the Lensois defender (8th). This warning has the merit of waking up Racing and Seko Fofana, who could have scored one of the goals of the weekend if his heavy strike had not smashed the post of Pau Lopez (22nd).
It was only a postponement, since the Lensois captain again showed his power by opening the scoring with a curled shot at the entrance to the area (41st). An important goal at a key moment in the match, especially since Igor Tudor had to deal with a hard blow in defense, with the injury of Samuel Gigot, forced to give way to Leonardo Balerdi at the half-hour mark On the front of the attack, Sanchez appeared diminished, while Jordan Veretout forced Brice Samba to pull off an exceptional save to allow Lens to take the lead at the break.
Sanchez injured
After Gigot, another blow hit OM, with the exit of Alexis Sanchez, replaced by Vitinha for the start of the second period. This twist of fate disrupted Marseille’s ambitions against a Lensoise rearguard still well in place. Igor Tudor’s men tried to break through the lock from set pieces, but waited until the 88th minute for Dimitri Payet’s too late score reduction. Opposite, the realism of the Sang & Or made the difference, in particular Loïs Openda, author of his 19th goal of the season on a cake from Przemysław Frankowski (61st). Incisive, Florian Sotoca’s teammates continued to attack to drive home the point, but sometimes made the wrong choices, like Fofana, who mismanaged a three against one in the final minutes. However, the main thing is elsewhere for Lens, which confirms its status as the best home team in the five major championships.
After Paris, Lyon, Rennes or Monaco, Marseille is also losing feathers to Bollaert, where only Nice and Lille have managed to take points. This solidity at home allows the Lensois to believe a little more in a direct qualification for the Champions League. There are four games left (reception of Reims and Ajaccio, trip to Lorient and Auxerre) to make this dream come true. With two points ahead of OM and three behind PSG, who travel to Troyes on Sunday, anything goes in this crazy Lensoise season.
