1st Team

OM - Reims (1-1) : Olympiens held to a draw

Analyse
Posted by
OM.fr
On Saturday 19 December 2020 at 07:49
Trailing at the break, the Olympiens equalised just before half-time and had to settle for a draw.

THE SURPRISE -  Pape Gueye 

To everyone's surprise, Pape Gueye was indeed part of the starting eleven lined up to take on Reims. Expelled by M.Turpin against Rennes, after having received two yellow cards, the midfielder from Marseille was absent from the group. The club decided to appeal against this decision and here is Pape Gueye in the middle alongside Kamara, Rongier and Payet.


André Villas-Boas was driving a diamond 4-4-2, with Thauvin and Benedetto in front. On the defence, OM had the return of Caleta-Car.

 

Starting XI OM : Mandanda (cap) - Sakai, Alvaro, Caleta-Car, Nagatomo - Rongier, Kamara, Gueye, Payet - Thauvin, Benedetto.

Pape Gueye est finalement titulaire pour affronter Reims.

 

Nagatomo UNLUCKY

The meeting began with a round of observation. Ten minutes during which both teams spun the ball around, without projecting too much forward. With their 4-5-1, it was clear that the Rémois would not leave much space. But when the Olympians accelerated, they were forced to commit fouls. Thauvin got a good free kick (11th). Payet with the ball found Benedetto's head and he hit the goalkeeper.

 

The Olympians were surprised after twenty minutes of play. A loss of ball in midfield allowed Zeneli to come back up and deliver a cross which Nagatomo unfortunately pushed into his own net.

 

equaliser just before the break

After two attempts that were rejected by Rajkovic, the third one was the right one for the Olympians. A Marseille offensive on the initiative of Rongier allowed them to equalise. The midfielder found Benedetto on the left who put the ball back for the top Olympien scorer, Thauvin, who finished the action and allowed OM to get back into the game. A few seconds after the goal, the referee sent both teams back to the dressing room.

 

Le meilleur buteur olympien.

 

THE SECOND HALF

Shortly before game time, André Villas-Boas made two changes. Pape Gueye and Yuto Nagatomo handed over their places to Michaël Cuisance and Saîf-Eddine Khaoui respectively. As soon as he entered the game, the latter had two opportunities in quick succession. Superbly found by Payet, he struck twice but the goalkeeper intercepted both times.

 

During the second period, the Olympians were largely occupying the opposing camp without being too worried. Despite numerous crosses and many forays into the area, the men of André Villas-Boas didn't manage to take the lead and had to settle down for a draw. It was the last match of this very special year at the Orange Vélodrome. There is still one last trip left, which will take place on Wednesday 23rd December in Angers.