Olympique Marseille – Stade Brestois: Sampaoli Makes It Two Out Of Two For Work-In-Progress Marseille (3-1)

A team with an already established style of play faced an opponent in search of identity. As a result, different formations, ways to press and buildup approaches were on full display. Stade Brestois dominated for long periods of time, however their lack of quality in the final third, Olivier Dall’Oglio’s risks and Jorge Sampaoli’s tactical tweaks led to an exciting late win for the hosts.  

Tactical analysis and match report by Thanos Chelas.

Coming into this match, Olympique de Marseille’s result crisis had made way to a new era led by Jorge Sampaoli, immediately resulting in  a mid-week win against Rennes. A new playing style, formation and football philosophy as well as some new player roles meant that excitement had come back to the French south.

Stade Brestois arrived at Marseille with the hope to end on a positive note after a brutal schedule that had seen them face all the “big boys” of French football in only a month's time.

Jorge Sampaoli continued with the 5-3-2 formation adopted in his first match, with the three center-backs Duje Ćaleta-Car, Leonardo Balerdi and Álvaro González having Yuto Nagatomo and Pol Lirola on their left and right respectively. Boubacar Kamara was the sole defensive midfielder as Saîf-Eddine Khaoui and Florian Thauvin were positioning themselves very close to the two forwards, Dimitri Payer and Arkadiusz Milik.

Olivier Dall’Oglio’s fluid 4-2-3-1 / 4-4-1-1 shape, included Paul Lasne dropping between the center-backs and the other defensive midfielder Jean Lucas with more freedom to push upwards. The wingers Jér . . .