PLAYER RATINGS | Marseille 3-1 Lens: Ethan Nwaneri scores as De Zerbi’s men close in on top two | OneFootball

Olympique de Marseille completed a dominant win to knock league leaders Lens off their perch on Saturday evening, as Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri scored a special goal on his debut after signing on loan for Les Olympiens just days ago.  

THE MATCH 

After a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League, Marseille had a huge Ligue 1 clash against top of the table Lens at the Vélodrome to contend with. The pressure was on Pierre Sage’s men after Paris Saint-Germain narrowly won over Auxerre on Friday evening (0-1). 

Roberto De Zerbi’s men then made a cracking start at the Vélodrome after OM fans let off fireworks just as kick-off took places. Amine Gouiri bundled past several Lens defenders after a smart ball from Paixao, before his strike was deflected past Risser (3′). One would become two shortly, as Marseille continued to capitalise on their fine start. Ethan Nwaneri had only just signed for the club, and doubled OM’s lead in style. The Englishman started with the ball just over the halfway line before closing down the Lens half, skipping past two defenders and delivering a controlled finish to the right of Robin Risser (12′). 

Yet OM weren’t quite away from danger as Odsonne Edouard found some space in the box but fired his strike above the crossbar. Yet after that flurry of action, Pierre Sage’s side looked to impose themselves more physically, as Marseille tried to hold onto the ball. The half-time whistle would go, and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg fist pumped to the crowd: no goal conceded before half-time like against Liverpool and a reasonable lead by the second half.  

Adrien Thomasson had a glorious opportunity back out of the traps, but he would slide his shot just wide of Rulli’s left post. Roberto De Zerbi’s diamond shape in midfield seemed to have a big effect on Lens’ ability to play – but the Sang & Or still were looking to threaten without testing Rulli.  Much of the second half would see OM consolidate themselves on the ball – the question was whether they were going to let Lens back into the game. Mason Greenwood’s introduction also gave OM a bit more attacking impetus, and a corner from Les Olympiens saw shouts for a handball, but the ball would hit Ganiou’s side and play was resumed. Marseille then added a third to complete their dominance, as Greenwood played Weah down the right side, and the American put the ball on a plate for Amine Gouiri to tap home and net his second of the evening. 

OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE PLAYER RATINGS 

Geronimo Rulli – 5

The Argentine didn’t have much to do, and wasn’t tested enough by Lens’ forward line, but his distribution out the back was good enough for De Zerbi’s side.  

Leonardo Balerdi – 5A bit more consistent than in his outing against Liverpool, where moments of defensive solidity were mixed between lapses in concentration on the ball. He was much more comfortable carrying the ball out the back. 

Nayef Aguerd – 6The Moroccan’s return to action from AFCON really settled down a backline that had conceded five goals in the last two games, he sat on the centre of a back three in possession and it suited him to a tee. 

Facundo Medina – 5

A positive performance from the Argentine against his former side. On the left of the back three he seemed much more comfortable than in a defensive centre back pairing, and was useful playing out wide and combining with Nwaneri, and Hamad Traroé – and later Mason Greenwood.

Timothy Weah – 5

The American once again solid in an OM shirt out on the right side, had much more impact on the game than against Liverpool. 

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 6

Ethan Nwaneri – 7

A hugely promising debut from the Englishman, whose run from the halfway line finished with his first goal in Ligue 1 just days after signing for the club. He showed his quality in tight spaces, dribbling, and flicks. He did come off on the 60th minute for Mason Greenwood’s introduction – but the Arsenal man certainly enjoyed himself out there and he’ll be an indispensable asset for Roberto De Zerbi in the coming months.

Quinten Timber – 7

Perhaps this was what Roberto De Zerbi needed, a physical box to box presence who could work in tandem with Pierre-Emile Højbjerg but also provide quality on the ball. Marseille’s midfield diamond structure caused Lens issues all night long, and Timber was very much the catalyst for a lot of that action in the middle.

Amine Gouiri – 7

The Algerian scored just three minutes into the game to kick Marseille off to the perfect start, showing strength, and finesse to get himself into the position to have a snapshot on target. He troubled the Lens backline for most of the game, and was rewarded for his efforts after Weah’s ball on a plate for the Algerian to tap home.

Igor Paixao – 6

Junior Hamad Traoré – 5

RC LENS PLAYER RATINGS 

Robin Risser – 4

The Frenchman wasn’t particularly challenged, but couldn’t do much for Gouiri’s opening goal after a wicked deflection off a teammate – yet it was felt he could have got a better angle on Nwaneri’s strike, however quick and controlled it was. He was not helped by a static defence that failed to close down the Englishman. His distribution was good, to give him that. Rubern Aguilar – 5

Mathieu Udol – 3

Malang Sarr – 4

Abdulhamid – 4

Pierre Ganiou – 5

Mamadou Sangaré – 4

Florian Thuavin – 4

The Florian Thuavin of this season was nowhere to be seen as the Frenchman returned to the Vélodrome as an RC Lens player. He was well-shepherded by the OM defence and couldn’t find that joyful space in between the lines that he has so often exploited this season so far. 

Adrien Thomasson – 5

Odsonne Edouard – 5

Wesley Saïd – 4

GFFN | George Boxall – Reporting from Stade Vélodrome, Marseille.