Brest - OM (2-3): successful restart
the starting xi
For the first official match of the season, André Villas-Boas chose, as usual, a 4-3-3, which he composed according to the absences: Sarr, Payet and Alavaro Gonzalez were not part of the trip to Brest. On the other hand, he could count on the return of Amavi, Mandanda, Rongier and Lopez. If the last two were not starters, the other two returned to their usual positions. Mandanda occupied the Olympian goal and his defence was composed of Sakai, Balerdi, the summer recruit, Caleta-Car and Amavi. In the middle, Kamara was positioned as a number 6, with Strootman on his right and Sanson on his left. Finally, Radonjic, Thauvin and Benedetto composed the Olympian attack.
successful first half
Shy during the first quarter of an hour, leaving the ball to Brest, the Olympians, on their first collective action, opened the score thanks to the special Flotov. This first goal freed the Marseille players who were projecting themselves further. Duverne's handball in his box was not whistled by the referee, although it seemed rather obvious. The Olympians didn't care about that and continued to attack until they scored a second goal on a set-piece through Caleta-Car. Although they were behind and dominated, the Bretons came close to Steve Mandanda's goal and managed to equalise at the end of the first period. Faivre's goal was reduced by a throw-in at the centre of the park. Effective in the first period, the Olympians were warned three times (Kamara, Amavi, and Radonjic).
Thauvin, FIRST SCORER
It is a beautiful story. After playing very little last season due to his injury, Florian Thauvin started this new season in the best possible way by being the first scorer of the season with a Flotov special! Perfectly served by Sanson, Thauvin rolled his ball around with his left foot and found the top corner of Larsonneur's goal. In addition to a goal, he also gave himself two assists, two from free-kicks, two for Duje Caleta-Car.
THE SECOND HALF
The Olympians had a complicated second half. Dominated by the hosts, they narrowly avoided an equaliser, especially when Charbonnier deflected his shot. After long minutes without getting close to Larsonneur's goal, the Olympians had a set-piece kick. Just as in the first half, Thauvin took the free-kick and put the ball to the head of Caleta-Car who scored a double.
At the end of the period, the Olympians were still struggling: Mandanda made a magnificent parry in front of Tavares. And on the next action, Charbonnier reduced the score.
L'OM suffered in this match but ensured the essential: victory and thus, the three points for their return to the competition.
INTErNATIONAL BREAK
It is already time for the first international break. Six Olympians will leave with their national selection: Kamara, Mandanda, Strootman, Radonjic, Caleta-Car and Aké. After that, the Marseille team will prepare their next match against PSG on Sunday, September 13th at 9 pm.
