PLAYER RATINGS | Strasbourg 1-2 Marseille: Injury-time Murillo strike sends Les Olympiens top of the league | OneFootball

Olympique de Marseille came from behind to earn a huge three points against Strasbourg, with an unlikely scorer in Michael Amir Murillo sending Les Olympiens top of the league temporarily to open Ligue 1’s action for the weekend. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang brought OM level after Abdoul Ouattara opened the scoring in the second half for RCSA – completing a promising week for Marseille after beating Paris Saint-Germain on Monday in Le Classique.

THE MATCHThe first half started brightly (as expected) between the two sides at Stade de la Meinau, with a high pressing game from both sides affording little time on the ball to play out of the back. It almost worked immediately for OM, when Pierre-Emile Højbjerg nicked the ball on the edge of the box but sent his strike way over the crossbar – an early warning shot from Les Marseillais. Marseille were starting to get a handle on the game, but Emmanuel Emegha would storm through the Marseille backline, dribble past Rulli and finish into the back of the net. The Marseille defence timed their high line well, and the Dutchman was caught clearly offside – but it signalled some dangerous intent for Strasbourg mid-way through the first period.

Marseille would get caught on the counter-attack, and Valentin Barco steered Moriera’s cross just wide of the post in an open position on the right side of the box – Liam Rosenior’s side were knocking on the door to open the breakthrough. Marseille then forced a save from Mike Penders via Amine Gouiri’s long-range freekick, before Leonardo Balerdi headed over the bar from the resulting corner. Gouiri was involved once again, his shot dribbling just wide one-on-one after Angel Gomes stole the ball in midfield.

After some tensions between the two benches during the start of the second half, the hosts would open the scoring via Abdoul Ouattara after some good work from Emmanuel Emegha – he pushed the ball into an empty net and the flag was raised for offside. Yet after consulting VAR, the referee would give the goal after it was clearly onside (48′).

Marseille tried to get back into the game immediately via Angel Gomes, before Paixao saw his shot swing just wide of the post. Maldera would make the first changes for Marseille, with Aubameyang, Greenwood, Emerson coming on with Weah, Paixao, Gouiri coming off. The substitutes seemed to do OM some good, with Aubameyang slipping in after some good work from Højbjerg to retake the ball through Strasbourg’s half – the Gabon international was denied by Penders at first before taking his chance and burying his strike at the second bite of the cherry (77′).

Yet Strasbourg would pile on the pressure in the closing minutes, as Panichelli steered a strike just wide of Rulli’s right post. Then OM would nick the result right in the dying seconds – and the source of the goal would be rather unlikely. Benjamin Pavard provided a swinging cross as Robinio vaz crashed his header against the crossbar – Michael Amir Murillo would pick up the ball on the rebound and arrow his strike into the back of the net (90+1′). Cue the wild celebrations, and the confirmation of the hard-work put in both against PSG and Real Madrid what has turned out to be the ideal week for Marseille, who have temporarily moved top of the league with a huge three points.

RACING CLUB DE STRASBOURG ALSACE PLAYER RATINGS Mike Penders – 5Mamadou Sarr – 5

Lucas Høgsberg – 5Guela Doué – 5Ben Chilwell – 5Valentin Barco – 7The Argentine is so used to putting in such a solid performance week-in and out in midfield, that you almost question why he wasn’t given a chance at Brighton. But the Seagulls’ loss was Strasbourg’s gain, and he was once again thriving in his midfield position under Liam Rosenior. Precise in his passing, he also had some bite in his tackles and looked to win the midfield battle which raged during the first half. He would trigger the press off the ball, and that led to Strasbourg scoring their opener through Ouatarra.

Ismael Doukouré – 5Félix Lemarechal – 4Diego Moreira – 6Kendry Paez – 4Much like Paixao, the Ecuadorian struggled with the pace and intensity of the first period and had to be hauled at half-time during the first period by Liam Rosenior. Fair to say it will take some time to adapt to the intensity and physicality of Ligue 1. Emmanuel Emegha – 5

OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE PLAYER RATINGS

Geronimo Rulli – 6Michael Amir Murillo – 7 The Panamanian came back into the OM starting XI after missing out against PSG and Real Madrid but once again showed why Roberto De Zerbi entrusts him to come back into the side so often. Was energetic down the right side, physical in his duels with Moreira and Chilwell – and with the cherry on the cake scored

Leonardo Balerdi – 6Nayef Aguerd – 6Aguerd is building up to be one of OM’s most competent and solid defenders – he didn’t get on the scoresheet tonight but his priority was purely defensive and in the build up. Was communicating and was starting to form a decent relationship with Balerdi at the back, and worked well with Medina in the wide position. Facundo Medina – 6 Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 5

Angel Gomes – 5It wasn’t quite sure where the Englishman was playing during the first period, as he started just ahead of Matt O’Riley and Højbjerg who were acting as a double pivot. He didn’t quite know what his role higher up consisted of and despite some promising patterns of passing, had very little impact on the ball – just before his chance right after OM conceded.

Timothy Weah – 5Matt O’Riley – 6Igor Paixao – 4He’s trying hard to justify that €30m price-tag, but it just isn’t happening so far for the Brazilian who just wasn’t suited to the physical intensity of the first period and nature of chances on the transition. He was also poor on the ball, despite creating two clear chances and forcing two saves from Penders either side of the break. He was logically subbed off for Greenwood just after OM went behind. Amine Gouiri – 5

GFFN | George Boxall