Beaten in Athens last week, Olympique de Marseille is without a net and must defeat Panathinaikos at all costs to still hope to play in the Champions League this season. Follow the match live on the L’Internaute website, from 9 p.m.
Marseille would have liked to come back from Athens tanned with a victory which would have opened the door to the Champions League play-offs a little wider. Instead, the club came back with the bite of a much more aggressive Athens sun than they expected and an added handicap. The injury is not irremediable but it will force OM to prepare better to consider continuing their walk on the best European lawns.
A first blunder that the Marseillais quickly corrected on Saturday. Brushed with cream, they first thought that the afternoon was going to go wrong before finally realizing that they had taken the right precautions. Reims certainly had arguments but Marseille showed its resources to get out of it and at the same time avenues to explore for the reception of Panathinaikos. The first is in attack. Apathetic in Greece, the attacking sector was shaken by Vitinha. In difficulty since his arrival at the last winter transfer window, the Portuguese perfectly exploited the tenure offered by Marcelino, being active and persevering until scoring the winning goal.
An activity that should convince the Spaniard to trust him a second time in a row and to renew the two-point scheme which seems to suit the qualities of the former Braga. It remains to be seen whether Aubameyang or Ndiaye will accompany him, the two not yet being in full possession of their means. More than the contribution of Vitinha, Marcelino will insist on the collective expression of his team and will call for more commitment. “We have to let go of the horses, believe in us”, echoes Jordan Veretout. The former Nantes player will have to lead by example and regain influence at the heart of the game where he should find Rongier, in the absence of Kondogbia, suspended. A complementary pair which should bring more consistency to the Marseille game, which did not exist last week.
“The most important thing is that we are all convinced and determined. There will be difficult times, but we all believe in it”, maintained a calm Marcelino on the eve of a match which promises to be decisive for the future. of the Marseille season. “We have to learn from these defeats, it’s an important game for our season,” confirms Jordan Veretout. Indeed, with their defeat in the first leg, OM are condemned to victory, any other result sending them directly to the Europa League. Not really the plan of the club. A fate that could also be decided on penalties if ever Marseille did not manage to score two more goals than Panathinaikos. An outcome that Marcelino refuses to consider. “I’m not thinking about a possible penalty shootout to be honest. Our objective is to win the game in 90 minutes,” he warned. There is no doubt, however, that the Spanish technician will have enhanced his last sessions with a rehearsal or two. Just in case.
Because Panathinaikos will not be easy to move. The first leg proved that this team is solid like Jedvaj and Magnusson, stronger than expected, and knows how to put a good intensity like Vilhena and Ruben Perez. Not to mention that his No. 1 attacking asset Slovenian Sporar has hardly been to his advantage and could cause further problems for the Marseille defense if they underestimate him. It remains to be seen with what intentions Ivan Jovanovic’s men will approach this meeting and above all how they will behave in a hostile context against a crowded Velodrome where their supporters have not been invited. An atmosphere which, on the contrary, could galvanize the Marseillais and save them a summer reddened by an early elimination.
The 3rd preliminary round return of the Champions League between Olympique de Marseille and Panathinaikos will take place from 9 p.m., near the Stade Vélodrome, in Marseille.
The 3rd preliminary round return of the Champions League between Olympique de Marseille and Panathinaikos will be broadcast live on M6.
The meeting between Valentin Rongier’s Olympique de Marseille and Ruben Perez’s Panathinaikos will be available for streaming on the 6Play platform.
Betclic: OM: 1,55 / Nul: 4,20 / Panathinaikos: 6,50
Parions Sport: OM: 1,52 / Nul: 4,30 / Panathinaïkos: 6,45
Winamax: OM: 1,55 / Nul: 4,25 / Panathinaïkos: 6,50
Olympique de Marseille: Pau Lopez – Clauss, Balerdi, Giot, Lodi – Sarr, Veretout, Rongier (cap.) Ounahi – Aubameyang, Vitinha.
Panathinaïkos: Brignoli – Vagiannidis, Jedvaj, Magnusson, Juan Carlos – Perez (cap.), Vilhena – Mancini, Djuricic, Bernard – Sporar.