Lille OSC – Olympique de Marseille: A second-half demolition for sorry Marseille (3-1)

A first half played with one eye on their upcoming European commitments gave way to a thrilling demolition of Olympique de Marseille at the hands of Lille OSC. Lille demonstrated their threat ahead of a midweek contest against Aston Villa, while for Marseille a visit from Benfica looks like a worrying possibility. 

Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Hartland.

Rumours surround Lille OSC’s manager Paulo Fonesca with his contract expiring this summer, ranging from the feasible with Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais in the hunt for a new figurehead, to the more ridiculous with the Portuguese linked to Liverpool. The work done by him as he leads Lille into their first-ever European quarter-final has been incredible, and losing him will be a hard blow to stomach for an ambitious and young side.

The future looks bleak for Olympique de Marseille after they came crashing down from their new manager bounce. Five wins in a row quickly gave way to three as they headed into this crucial game in their hunt for European football. Seventh will likely be enough for qualification to next year’s campaigns and with the club lingering in that spot they will be desperate to try and improve on a worrying season. 

Fonseca went with a 4-3-3 shape. Lucas Chevalier was in goal, behind a backline of Ismaily, Alexsandro, Leny Yoro, and Tiago Santos. At the base of midfield, Benjamin André with Hákon Arnar Haraldsson and Nabil Bentaleb as the number eights. Up front, Jonathan David as the number nine was surrounded on either side by Rémy Cabella and Edon Zhegrova as wingers. 

Jean-Louis . . .

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Nick Hartland is a freelance writer focusing on French football. You can find him @NickHartland_ on Twitter. [ View all posts ]

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