Reims-OM (1-3) : Payet steals the show

STARTING XI 

In the opening match of the 34th round of the Ligue 1 Uber Eats, Jorge Sampaoli opted for a classic 3-5-2 formation but with a few changes. Without Caleta-Car, who is serving his second match suspension, the Olympien coach opted to field Perrin in central defence alongside Alvaro, who has returned, and Balerdi. On the flanks, Pol Lirola starts on the right while Nagatomo finds a place in the eleven on the left wing. In midfield and in attack, no changes to note with Kamara, Gueye and Thauvin in midfield and Milik and Payet up front.
 

OM XI : Mandanda (cap ) - Lirola, Balerdi, Gonzalez, Perrin, Nagatomo - Thauvin, Kamara, Gueye - Payet, Milik. 

OM REACT RAPIDLY 

The first half was slow to get going. We had to wait until the 38th minute to see a shot on target. Unfortunately, it was in favour of the Rémois who opened the score from a corner thanks to a header from Mbuku. Three minutes later, the Olympiens equalised. Pol Lirola, the man in form at the moment, delivered a cross back to Payet who put it perfectly into Rajkovic's net.

OLYMPIEN INJURIES

Before the opening goal of Reims, Boubacar Kamara called the medical staff after suffering back pain. Unfortunately, the Olympien midfielder was in too much pain to continue the match. He gave way to Valentin Rongier, who was back on the pitch with OM after several weeks of absence. 
 

In the second half, Lucas Perrin also left his partners. After a contact with Mandanda, the Marseille defender held his knee.

100 ASSISTS FOR PAYET

Dimitri Payet, who had scored a few minutes earlier, once again distinguished himself by delivering a magnificent decisive pass to Arek Milik. A cross to the far post cut out by the Pole gave OM the lead in stoppage time. This new offering from the Reunionese, his hundredth in Ligue 1, marks the return to great form of the Olympien number 10.

11 v 10 for OM

After a heavy foul on Rongier, the Reims defender, Faes, was shown a second yellow card and sent off. With eleven men against ten, the Olympians took advantage of the space left by their opponent to score a third goal. A new goal signed Payet on a perfect service from Rongier. The match became complicated for the Rémois who were under pressure against the Marseille team who were determined to score as much as possible. Milik also thought he had scored twice, but the VAR confirmed that the referee had ruled it offside. 
 

With a great Dimitri Payet, OM won against Reims despite being undefeated in eleven games on their home ground. 
 

For the time being, the Olympians are back in 5th place while waiting for Lens' match against Nîmes.