OM almost lost a match they deserved to win. That would have been an injustice, but OM have already experienced such things in Lisbon.
Managing a draw is the lesser of two evils. It is also a reward for the performance put in by Didier Deschamps’s team, it is also encouraging in view of the return leg.
The best chances of the game fell to OM, mainly in the first half with three clear cut opportunities. Lucho had two of them on the tip of his boot, but he was unable to finish off his close range effort (16’), nor his instinctive shot from a Cheyrou cross (45’).
The 3rd fell to Brandao, in a completely different register. Played in by Lucho, the Brazilian broke free, but move too wide before messing up his shot when faced with the opposition keeper (21’).
Lisbon, without ever closing down play, had more difficulty in being dangerous. Apart from distance, something they tried quite often, especially as OM made the mistake of dropping too deep when the Portuguese broke forward, leaving more than enough space for the players who were happy enough to try their chance.
Because of this, Mandanda only really saw one Benfica forward in his box before the break. There was no damage however, he caught a side foot effort from Aimar, who had been played in by Saviola. This was the only attempt which the busy Mbia and his partners had not managed to contain.
Marseille maintained their control over the match in the second half. If Benfica had some good periods, they never really gave a solid Marseille side too tough of a time.
It has to be said, we expected to suffer more. To be under more pressure. On the contrary, we were still complaining about the save by Julio Cesar from a Niang header when Bebnfica surprised everyone by taking the advantage from a strange move. Cardozo missed his volley from a Di Maria cross, but Mandanda dropped the ball at the feet of Maxi Pereira (1-0, 75’).
Marseille’s regrets at not finding the net were suddenly multiplied. The weight of that was only slightly lightened when they saw their keeper push onto the bar a cannonball of a shot from Ramires (86’).
Despite this save, a defeat wouldn’t have been any less difficult to accept. Happily enough, Ben Arfa, heading home a cross from Bonnart, gave everyone a lift (1-1, 90’), allowing his side to hold all the cards before the return leg in a week’s time in Marseille. La Luz, a now silent cathedral, was well and truly aware of this.