Olympique de Marseille – Paris FC: Distraction Amid The Chaos (5-2)

Olympique de Marseille rapidly fell into crisis following their opening day defeat to ten-man Stade Rennais. Roberto de Zerbi’s men needed a big result in front of an expectant Stade Vélodrome against Paris FC to draw some attention from a week under the spotlight. Marseille delivered the result, but questions still linger over the performance. 

Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Hartland.

Chaos never lingers too far from Olympique de Marseille, but even still, it was surprising to see how quickly they fell into crisis. The defeat to Stade Rennais was embarrassing, and what came after was worse, as Jonathan Rowe and Adrien Rabiot came to blows in the dressing room. The two players were both transfer-listed, while Rabiot’s mother embroiled herself in a public mudslinging match with various members of the Marseille hierarchy. 

With this in mind, no surprise that Rowe (who has now signed for Bologna) and Rabiot (who might be given a second chance) were not included in the squad. Roberto de Zerbi picked a 4-2-3-1 shape, with Gerónimo Rulli in goal. A back four of Ulisses Garcia, Leonardo Balerdi, CJ Egan-Riley, and Michael Murillo. The double pivot of Angel Gomes and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, with Timothy Weah and Mason Greenwood flanking the number 10 Amine Gouiri. Up front, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang started his first game of the season. 

Paris FC are one of the richest . . .