Nîmes - OM (0-2) : OM crunch the Crocos
Return to the diamond
André Villas-Boas has changed his tactical plan once again. 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2, the Portuguese coach is blurring the lines. For the opening of the 13th day of Ligue 1 Uber Eats, OM started the match in 4-4-2 in a diamond shape with Benedetto and Payet in attack. The diamond was made up of Kamara on defensive midfield duty, Cuisance behind the attacking players and Sanson and Rongier on the sides. Thauvin started the game on the bench.
STERILE DOMINATION
If the hosts had only one real chance in the first half, a free kick of Eliasson on the crossbar of Mandanda, the Olympians had a lot more. They managed to deny the Nîmois a ball and had 72% possession in the first half. The Olympiens had four clear chances, by Payet after a festival in the box, his left-footed shot was repelled by Reynet, a header from Caleta-Car, a shot from Cuisance and a header from Alvaro in added time, all three of them on target.
This first period was mainly marked by fouls, mainly from Nimes, who responded to the challenge offered by the Marseilles team with an above-average commitment.
Villas-Boas SEES RED
The referee of the match, Willy Delajod, was trigger-happy. He showed his first yellow card after 52 seconds against Amavi after a tough shoulder-to-shoulder duel. It was then the turn of Cuisance (21st), then Caleta-Car (40th) and finally Alvaro (45th). The third caution made André Villas-Boas react, which displeased the referee who warned the Olympien coach before excluding him from the match altogether. The Portuguese technician left the bench and settled just above on the edge of the grandstand.
Benedetto Loves Nîmes
After having scored a hat-trick on the pitch of the Stade des Costières and opened his goal counter last week against Nantes, Benedetto has done it again against Nimes. In the 57th minute, Alvaro launched the Argentinian who took the Nîmes defender at speed before making a nice, chest dampened move in the race and a delicate shot to deceive Reynet out of the box.
Nîmes FINISH with ten, germain seals win
Despite the avalanche of yellow cards for the Marseillais in the first period, it was the Crocodiles who finished the game with ten men. After Benedetto's goal, the Nîmois were a little more focused on Mandanda's goals. But in three minutes, Cubas received two yellow cards. Barely into the last quarter of an hour into the game, Arpinon's players were at 10, and OM took advantage of the opportunity to regain the upper hand in the game... And to double the lead thanks to Germain when he received a cross from Sanson and finished well to seal the result.
