Old foe Atalanta beat Marseille with late wonder-strike
Marseille suffered their third defeat in their first four Champions League matches, the latest coming against Atalanta (0-1).
No revenge for the Marseillais
It was Atalanta who broke Marseillais hearts back in 2023. It was the Italian side who beat the Ligue 1 McDonald's side to reach the Europa League final back in 2024. When they returned to the Vélodrome on Wednesday night, OM had the chance to take their revenge.
However, it was a sluggish start from Roberto De Zerbi's men, who with upcoming UCL games against Liverpool and Newcastle, were in need of points in order to bolster their chances of progression.
Atalanta were awarded a penalty after Geronimo Rulli caught Nikola Krstovic. It was Charles De Ketelaere who stepped up to take it. It was a well-struck penalty from the former AC Milan man but it was an excellent save from Rulli, who made up for his error, springing low to his left to turn it around the corner.
It was a moment that woke the home side up. Chances followed. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang forced Marco Carnesecchi into a good save (23'), and Pierre-Emile Hojbjeg blasted wide on the half-volley (32') before half-time.
Gerónimo Rulli. THE WALL. 🇦🇷🧱 pic.twitter.com/4QOJ3EwbGc
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) November 5, 2025
Krstovic, looking to atone for his error, then went close just before the half-time whistle but blasted over wildly from a good position (38'). But it was the visitors who continued to have the better of the game, showing a completely different level to the last time they were on French soil, losing 4-0 to reigning UCL champions PSG.
Having gone so close in the first-half, Atalanta thought they had took the lead when Ademola Lookman slid home a ball across the box from Raoul Bellanova (69'). It was Rulli who saved Marseille in the first-half, it was VAR in the second-half, with an offside spotted in the build-up.
A contested late winner
But Atalanta would get their goal and it would come in controversial circumstances. OM were demanding a penalty for a handball from Éderson. It wasn't given and instead, the Italian side went immediately down the other end and Lazar Samardzic finished with a spectacular curled finish (90+2'), leaving Rulli no chance.
Marseille, desperate to take something from an energy-sapping battle with their old foe, pushed in the final moments and went close through Mason Greenwood (90+8'), but they couldn't find the goal, much to the furstration of De Zerbi, who now have work to do if they are to finish in the top 24.
The Stat: 10
Marseille don't tend to have much joy against Italian sides. They haven't won any of their last eight, drawing three and losing seven. Their last win against a Serie A opponent came back in February 2012 and a 1-0 win over Inter Milan.
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