Good last in group D after their defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt (1-2) last week and before playing the last day of the group stage of the Champions League, the Marseillais again failed to qualify in 8th final after their defeat against Tottenham (1-2). They are eliminated from the competition.
By Valentin Berg
Olympique de Marseille was not really spoiled for choice on this last day of the group stage of the Champions League. To hope to qualify for the round of 16 of the competition for the first time since 2012, the Phocaeans had to sign a victory against Tottenham, the leader of the group, in front of their white-hot supporters at the Vélodrome stadium.
After a whirlwind start to the game, marked in particular by a header from Alexis Sánchez which grazed Hugo Lloris’ post shortly after the 2nd minute of play, the momentum of the Marseillais could have experienced a first setback from the 9th minute with the exit of the Ivorian central defender Éric Bailly, too weak physically to support the intensity of the match. But pushed by their public, Igor Tudor’s players continued to multiply their incursions into the opposing area, until they offered themselves a new opportunity thanks to a strike from Alexis Sánchez in the 18th minute.
It was then Tottenham who suffered a blow, with the exit in the 24th minute of their striker Heung-min Son, hit by Congolese defender Chancel Mbemba and replaced by Malian midfielder Yves Bissouma. In the 33rd minute, a powerful shot from Jordan Veretout once again forced Hugo Lloris to make a decisive save. The efforts made by the Marseillais ended up paying off in added time in the first period thanks to a header from Chancel Mbemba (47th) who found the back of the opposing net just before half-time.
A second period less controlled
Upon returning from the locker room, the OM players entered the pitch with one foot in the round of 16 of the competition and the same intentions as in the first period. But despite still intensive pressing from the Marseille players, Tottenham managed to come back to score thanks to a header from Frenchman Clément Lenglet (54th) which allowed the London club to maintain their chances of qualification.
After a controlled first period, the Marseillais found it much more difficult to worry the opposing goalkeeper in the second period and suffered against more sharp and dangerous Londoners in the last meters. Harry Kane even almost increased the score after his duel won against Pau López (65th) but the English international was offside at the start of the action.
In a stifling atmosphere, the Phocaeans saw the powerful strike of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg crash against the crossbar (81st), on the verge of sealing their fate. A few minutes later, the scenario of the match could have been completely reversed when Sead Kolasinac, completely alone at the far post, badly adjusts his head (87th) and lets the ball slip right next to Tottenham’s cages.
The feat dreamed of by the Marseillais finally came to an end in the 95th minute, when a new strike from the Dane Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg this time found the nets of the Marseille goalkeeper. With this victory, Tottenham finished in first place in the group and qualified for the round of 16 of the competition. For its part, Olympique de Marseille has once again failed to reach the final phase of the competition, from which the club has been absent since 2012.
Little stake in the other groups
In Group A, the fate was already sealed for Ajax Amsterdam and Glasgow Rangers, far too far behind Liverpool and Naples, already qualified in the round of 16 and who competed to win first place in the group. Despite the victory of the English (2-0) thanks to goals from Salah and Nunez, it was Naples who finished leader of the group.
Same pattern in the group of FC Porto and Bruges, already guaranteed to play the rest of the competition and who were above all looking to simplify the draw for the eliminatory phase by finishing first in first place. The Portuguese finally eclipsed Atlético de Madrid (2-1) and took the lead in the group, while the Madrid club had to settle for last place and saw the Europa League slip through their fingers.
In Group C, Bayern Munich had already taken care of killing all suspense the previous day. Guaranteed to clinch first place after their faultless run in the group stage, the Bavarians faced Inter Milan in an enticing match without stakes. They easily defeated the Italian club (2-0) thanks in particular to a headed goal from French international Benjamin Pavard. Despite his victory against Viktoria Plzen, FC Barcelona, already eliminated last week, will be transferred to the Europa League.