Unable to overcome Le Mans (0-0), OM are now only one point behind Nancy who lost to Lyon at Gerland. Everything is to play for in the last game of the season, where OM will not be masters of their own destiny.
OM have pulled back one of the points that separated them from Nancy in their quest for third place, Nancy who lost to Lyon (1-0). This is the positive note to be taken from the trip to Le Mans. Without ever dominating, not dominated, Marseille managed to carve out two clearcut chances, through Akalé in the first and Cheyrou in the second half. Le Mans, even though they were down to 10 men managed to hit the post. At the end of the day OM are still one point behind their opponents Nancy, Nancy who play Rennes on the final day of the season, Rennes are still looking for a European spot while OM’s opponent for the ultimate match Strasbourg are already relegated. The game at the Vélodrome will have to be won and fingers crossed that Nancy draw or lose their game.
It was at roughly 22h00 when the Nancy player André Luiz scored an own goal at Gerland. 10 minutes later, Benoît Cheyrou couldn’t believe that Yohan Pelé had managed to stop his effort in their duel. An evening that had promised so much emotion didn’t deliver all that much. «Mixed feelings» said Pape Diouf in the corridors of Léon-Bollée. That’s the feeling that the game gave. A real chance of getting back into third place has been missed. OM’s chances of qualification for the Champions League depend on the outcome of the match between Nancy and Rennes next Saturday. Newly relegated Strasbourg will also have to be beaten at the Vélodrome at the same time. Tonights game against Le Mans will not be one that will be remembered , despite a great OM team spirit and two great chances. Unfortunately in vain.
Eric Gerets started with an offensive trio of Valbuena/Niang/Akalé, backed up by Nasri. With an attacking formation 
, OM had some difficulties at the start of the match, faced with a very athletic Le Mans side who were pushing hard on Mandanda’s goal, as proven by De Melo, with a header (11th) or Gervinho (26th).
The only real chance that Marseille had was a long range effort from Nasri which Pelé saved well (27th). A first shot which got Om going, just afterwards Akalé, unmarked in front of goal, couldn’t manage to connect with Cheyrou’s cross after some really hard work by Niang (28th). Cheyrou then hit in a missile that Le Mans keeper punched away (30th). That was about it for a first half that neither team had managed to get a hold of, apart from the flurry of action around the half hour mark.
The second half was going to be a lot more animated, starting off quickly with a header from Geder which hit Mandanda’s post (48th). And as a certain amount of tension crept onto the field after the sending off of Bouhours for a tackle on Valbuena (52nd), Taiwo almost surprised Pelé with a header before the keeper righted himself (56th). A shot from Valbuena was then to worry the keeper (57th).
A little later on, Akalé collided with Pelé inside the box but Mr. Layec waved play on (65th). After a one-two with Niang, Cheyrou found himself one on one with the keeperwhopulled off a magnificent save from the Marseille players shot (75th). The best OM move since the restart was followed by a Mandanda save from a header by Cerdan (80th). And despite some attempts by OM at the end of the game, nothing was to change. Nor would it at Gerland, where Nancy lost. Next week is going to be a rollercoaster of emotion.
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