OM - Reims (1-1) : OM ends the year with a draw
IT TURNS AGAIN IN MARSEILLE
The rotation introduced by Jorge Sampaoli continues. For the last match of the year 2021, the Argentine coach has made eight changes to his starting eleven compared to the team that won 4 goals to 1 in the round of 32 of the French Cup against Cannet-Rocheville, last Sunday at the Orange Velodrome. Only Guendouzi, Payet and Milik played in both matches. Lopez, Saliba, Caleta-Car, Peres, Kamara, Gerson, Rongier and Ünder replaced Mandanda, Amavi, Alvaro, Balerdi, Lirola, Gueye, de la Fuente and Harit.
FIRST HALF
OM outrageously dominated the first 45 minutes of the match. The Rémois did not give up and never broke. However, they have a lot to do as the white waves followed one another on Rajkovic's goal. A keeper who had a lot of work to do in the first half. Ünder tried his luck from a tight angle as early as the fifth minute, then the visiting goalkeeper saved two heavy, long-range shots from Milik (10') and Ünder (11'). He then turned aside a cross from Guendouzi (24'). The latter tried to head in at the near post from a corner, but the Stade de Reims' last line of defence made a reflex save (36'). It was then his crossbar that saved him from a magnificent curl from Payet (38').
Oscar Garcia's players only had one real opportunity. In the last second of the first half, a header from Abdelhamid, from close range, went wide.
Reims SURPRISE OM
The Olympians dominated the second half just as much as the first, but they had fewer chances. The more time went by, the more the Reims' defence curled up on itself. The rare counter-attacks were annihilated by Peres or Lopez. But the one in the 75th minute cooled down the Orange Vélodrome which did not need that on this cold winter evening. The newcomers of the second half made the difference: Lopy crossed for Ekitike who, without control, beat Lopez.
OM DOWN TO TEN
As the Olympiens tried to do everything possible to come back into the game, Dieng, who came on in the 79th minute in place of Gerson, was shown a red card after a tackle on Foket. The Senegalese striker will be automatically suspended for the French Cup match on 2 January 2022 at 9pm against US Chauvigny in Limoges.
PENALTY IN ADDITIONAL TIME
We were heading for a Marseille defeat when, following contact between Payet and Gravillon, the referee went to check the action on VAR. After viewing the images, which left little doubt, he pointed to the penalty spot. Payet took it and converted it, giving his partners a poing in the 8th minute of extra time!
The draw keeps OM on the podium, in third place, equal on points with Nice (33) in 2nd, but the Azureans have a better goal difference (+12 against +11).
