PLAYER RATINGS | Nantes 1 – 1 Marseille: Les Phocéens frustrated by 10-man Canaris
Marseille have provisionally taken the lead in the Ligue 1 standings courtesy of their away draw at Nantes. Les Phocéens started strongly and made the most of the hosts’ defensive shortcomings. Nantes manager Pierre Aristouy’s gamble to partner new signing Eray Cömert with 17-year-old Bastien Meupiyou in defense completely backfired early on. The former Valencia man did little to prevent Vitinha from lining up a shot that eventually led to Ismaïla Sarr’s 4th-minute opener. The Nantes youth product was then given his marching orders by Ruddy Buquet for blatantly preventing a clean through on goal Sarr to try to make it two.
With a man and a goal down ten minutes in, Nantes had the proverbial mountain to climb against Marcelino’s side. The Spanish coach grew frustrated by Marseille’s inability to contain and punish a resurgent 10-man Nantes side. Les Canaris played like a team with nothing to lose and it showed. OM switched off before half-time and were the makers of their own demise. Nantes played a quick throw-in to Moses Simon who fed Mostafa Mohamed in the box. The brilliant Egyptian forward shrugged off Chancel Mbemba to volley in a tremendous effort in Pau Lopez’s top corner.
The second half started and it was still not obvious to the eye that Marseille had the advantage in numbers. The visitors had no answer to match Nantes’ intensity and failed to seriously threaten Descamps, leading Marcelino to cut an agitated figure in the touchline. Marseille eventually got the upper hand back with Nantes showing signs of tiredness after playing with a man down for one hour. However, the Spaniard only made one change against a 10-man team running on fumes.
Nantes were now under siege with Marseille dominating proceedings. The
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