OM 1-1 Angers | OM full time
During the month of August, the team from Marseille have continued their marathon summer with a third match in one week for Rudi Garcia and his squad. For the welcome of Angers at the Orange Vélodrome, the Olympique coach made many changes to his squad. Five starting players from three days previous in Slovenia are on the bench (Lopez, Germain, Sakai) or are rested (Evra, Sertic). With a 4-2-3-1 formation, Ronaldo is back on the wing with Rami, whilst Bouna Sarr and Jordan Amavi, who make their home debut in the OM jersey, start the match along with André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Lucas Ocampos and Clinton Njie.
The fixture starts timidly but the numerous changes made to Olympique's starting eleven doesn't seem to have disturbed the squad. Since the opening quarter of an hour of the match, the players loosen up and Olympique look dangerous towards Letellier's goal. From a cross by Sanson, Clinton Nike, still working well leading the attack, surprises the SCO defence with a outside of the foot lob exchange which beats the goalkeeper and opens the score (1-0, 17'). The Olympique goal enables the Angevins to play their game. Crivelli gathers the ball from the ground but Mandanda remains alert and makes a save with his foot (19'). At the end of the first half, OM proceed to counter attack, taking advantage of the speed of Clinton Nije. Unfortunately during one of these attacks, the Cameroonian player injures himself and has to give way to Germain. Miguelgorry blows his whistle to signal half-time. OM lead by the smallest of margins at 1-0.
In the second half, Olympique continue to attack and want to make the break. The match is very much attack versus defence. Germain is tripped up by the defence (48') as with Ocampos (52') and Thauvin who sends a header over the target (53'). Both wings are being used, notably by Bouna Sarr who is very active on the right but his many crosses aren't finding the targets. Angers grin and bear it, weathering the storm and take their change as, against the run of play, Toko-Ekambi taps in a shot in the 6 yard box. Mandanda can't stop the ball which ends up in the back of the net (1-1, 70'). SCO is now more dangerous. Mangani (73') and Thomas (79') send shivers around the Orange Vélodrome but this time the goalkeeper is alert. Thauvin (81') and Ocampos (85') try to give a third victory to the Marseillaise supports without it being the end result. The end of the match finished with a red card given to the Argentine (90'+4) after a rash tackle.
With this draw, OM miss the opportunity to stay at the top of Ligue 1 Conforama. Now, OM will have to qualify for the qualification stages of the Europa League, next Thursday, against Domzale.
