PLAYER RATINGS | Paris FC 2-2 Marseille: Les Parisiens stage late fight-back to pile misery on De Zerbi’s men | OneFootball

Paris FC fight back from two goals behind to deny Marseille three points at Stade Jean-Bouin in the capital, plunging OM into further uncertainty and more importantly losing further ground at the top of the Ligue 1 table.

THE MATCH

It was an emotionally charged few days after Marseille were knocked out of the Champions League at Brugge and reports around talks between Roberto De Zerbi and the OM leadership. It was back to Ligue 1 for Les Olympiens, against a Paris FC side who were looking to compile the Southern club’s recent misery. After a club pyrotechnics show, the clash would finally get underway at a chilly Stade Jean Bouin in the capital.Roberto De Zerbi’s men started quickly on the ball, but Jean Phillipe Krasso would give a reminder that OM don’t have any room for slack passing – when he nipped in to take the ball on the halfway line and tried to lob Rulli from range. OM would have several chances to get in the game, a header from Greenwood and Balerdi failed to test Kevin Trapp whilst Paris looked stuck in their own half. There was a handball shout from Mason Greenwood, which was retroactively given several minutes later, and the Englishman stepped up to convert (17′). 

An almighty roar broke out, as a majority of Marseille supporters in the stadium defied a travel ban from the league to cheer on their side. Despite entering with no colours, they were now the majority at the stadium. Back on the pitch Timothy Weah broke behind the backline on the left side, but Trapp was positioned well to save. 

PFC began to move up the pitch more positively, and created a few openings few Ilan Kebbal, whilst OM’s defence looked far from convincing, they enjoyed the openness of the game more – as Greenwood and Nwaneri threatened on the counter attack. A lovely phase of play between Kebbal, Lopez, and Krasso saw Simon released down the right side but Balerdi was on hand to intervene at the last second as the ball came across the face of goal. Les Olympiens reacted: Greenwood and Nwaneri combined once more but the ball across the box to an open Quinten Timber was just behind – avoiding what looked like a certain second goal for OM.

By the end of the first half, OM had done the minimum – but anything is an improvement from Wednesday evening’s showing. As it stood, just the one goal margin left the possibility of a late collapse given Paris FC had generated several chances. PFC manager Stephane Gilli opted to substitute Maxime Lopez at halftime for Marshal Munetsi, as De Zerbi’s men returned unchanged for the second half.Les Olympiens doubled their lead after some smart play between Nwaneri and Greenwood down the right side, and the former Manchester United attacker provided the ball on a plate for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to tap in at the back post (52′). Les Parisiens had nothing to lose at this point, but looked too passive in the final third as OM continued to attack into space. Leonardo Balerdi then struck the post with a header, before substitute Amine Gouiri was inches away from scoring third as Trapp intervened just in time on a cross from Greenwood.It felt inevitable that Paris FC would get on the scoresheet, as Moustapha Mbow wound up a cross which was met by Jonathan Ikoné with a header from the centre of the box to put PFC back into the contest (81′). Stephane Gilli’s players grabbed the ball straight away, as they believed they could get back on level terms. This time it was the home crowd that raised their voices for one last push going into injury time. On the break, Mason Greenwood and Amine Gouiri had a glorious chance to finish off the contest, but the Englishman slipped in the box before Gouri blasted over the bar.And then the drama, because there is always drama with OM. Geronimo Rulli rushed out of his six-yard box to punch away from Munetsi, but made too much contact as the ball bounced just wide. A penalty would be given to PFC, and Illan Kebbal stepped up confidently to convert in injury time for Les Parisiens (90+3′).De Zerbi’s men had an inordinate amount of chances to kill the game, but they were ultimately punished once again this season. More points dropped from Les Olympiens after elimination from the Champions League: can a Coupe de France tie at Rennes bring some solstice to a side tortured by their own demons next week? 

PARIS FC PLAYER RATINGS

Kevin Trapp – 5

The German made several decent stops in the first period, notably to deny Timothy Weah one-on-one just before the break. Yet he couldn’t do much to stop Aubameyang from doubling the lead as his defence was all over the place, he was well placed again to stop OM from grabbing a third. 

Timothy Kolodziejczak – 5

Otávio – 5

Alimani Gory – 4Illan Kebbal – 7

The Marseille-born midfielder put in another solid performance as the creative outlet for Paris FC, but it seems like Stephane Gilli’s side rely too heavily on the Algerian in order to score goals at this level. He had a bright first period, found spaces, built well with Lopez – but his final ball was just lacking. He stepped up with a confident penalty to level proceedings in added time and deny OM the thee points.Maxime Lopez – 5

He played well in the first period and combined well with Kebbal, so a small mystery why he was taken off at half-time for Marshall Munetsi’s debut in a PFC shirt. 

Adama Camara – 5

Moses Simon – 5

Jean-Phillipe Krasso – 4

The Ivorien had a quick flash at goal with his attempted chip early on, but other than that he failed to really impact from the front against OM. Marshall Munetsi – 6The Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee made an impressive start to life in a PFC shirt, his late runs and attacking involvement pushed Les Parisiens higher up the pitch in the second half. His run into the box, and collision with Rulli saw his side given the chance from the penalty spot to level deep into injury time.

OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE PLAYER RATINGS 

Geronimo Rulli – 4

Facundo Medina – 4

Nayef Aguerd – 5

Leonardo Balerdi – 4

Despite a couple of individual errors and nervy moments, the OM captain looked improved on the right side of defence, despite not wholly encouraging with his display and with 

Igor Paixao – 4

Quentin Timber – 6

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 5

Timothy Weah – 5

Ethan Nwaneri – 5The Englishman didn’t quite reach the heights that he did against Lens, but he was busy and built a good on-pitch connection with Greenwood in the first period. Along with Timber, he brings a freshness that this side craves after the somewhat traumatic exit from the Champions League in the week.Mason Greenwood – 6

The Englishman was one of the only players to put in a half reasonable performance against Brugge in the week, but he was decisive once again for De Zerbi’s side with his 13th goal in Ligue 1 this season from the penalty spot. This was before the Englishman provided the assist for Aubameyang’s tap-in at the backpost.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 5GFFN | George Boxall – Reporting from Stade Jean Bouin, Paris