Marseille Fc hold off Lyon as Aubameyang nets late winner amid pre-match nerves
marseille fc beat Olympique Lyonnais 3-2, a result that followed a tense match marked by injuries, stoppages and a late Pierre-Emile Aubameyang finish that settled the game.
Fast break finish turns the game
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the decisive goal for Marseille with a right-footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal, assisted by Ethan Nwaneri following a fast break, giving Marseille a 3-2 lead.
Set plays, cards and stoppages shaped the contest
Himad Abdelli of Marseille was shown a yellow card for a bad foul, while Rémi Himbert of Lyon won free kicks on both the left wing and the right wing during the match. Himbert also headed from the centre of the box but his attempt, assisted by Ainsley Maitland-Niles, flew high and wide to the left.
Delays and injuries interrupted play
The match was delayed twice because of injuries to Gerónimo Rulli of Marseille and Tyler Morton of Lyon. A substitution followed for Lyon when Abner Vinícius replaced Nicolás Tagliafico because of an injury. The fourth official announced 6 minutes of added time.
Changes and defensive moments
Marseille made a substitution when Tochukwu Nnadi replaced Mason Greenwood. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Emerson each won free kicks in Marseille's defensive half as the home side worked to protect its lead late on.
Pre-match context: Beye's 'no fear' message
Habib Beye had said Marseille have "no fear" of Lyon and said he remained optimistic about their top-four hopes. Beye was named as Roberto De Zerbi's successor earlier in February but lost his first game in charge 2-0 away to Brest.
Form, standings and squad concerns before the match
Marseille went into the match winless in their last four Ligue 1 matches but still sat fourth, five points behind third-place Lyon. Beye said, "I'm very optimistic. We want to win this match to get back within two points of Lyon. " Beye, who is back at the Orange Velodrome having played there between 2003 and 2007, warned the team must show a winning attitude from the very first second: "There are 11 matches left, 33 points; the season is very long. Any other result wouldn't change everything. This team knows what it can do. It's an exceptional match to play at the Velodrome. It's a real challenge for them too. There's no fear. There's joy. We have to show a winning attitude from the very first second. "
Lyon injuries and attacking notes
Paulo Fonseca said top scorer Pavel Sulc was set to be missing for Lyon for this game, along with Afonso Moreira, and he warned of defensive injury problems. Fonseca said, "It's tough because these are four players who are difficult to replace. We have to play with the players we have. We face many matches in similar situations, and we have to build the team with those who are available. [The defensive injuries are] concerning because we have few options. We look at what we can do with the players we have. These are players who carry the team on the field, who are present in the box, strong in defence, and capable in attack. This depth was lacking in the last match. It's difficult, but we can find a solution. "
