Strasbourg snatch late point at the Vélodrome
In a febrile and fractured atmosphere at the Stade Vélodrome, OM looked set to steady the ship under interim coach Jacques Abardonado. Instead, late goals from Sébastien Nanasi and a stoppage-time penalty converted by Joaquin Panichelli ensured a 2-2 draw that felt like a defeat.
A stadium in protest
If there were any doubts about the scale of Marseille’s crisis, they were dispelled before kick-off. Both virages stood empty in protest, and banners in the Virage Nord aimed squarely at club ownership underscored the unrest. The players were roundly booed as they were announced — an extraordinary backdrop for a side still harbouring European ambitions.
Strasbourg, buoyed by successive league victories and renewed optimism under Gary O'Neil, began brightly. Martial Godo rattled the crossbar after meeting Diego Moreira’s cross, with Gerónimo Rulli beaten.
But as the ultras filtered back in, OM stirred. Amine Gouiri slipped a neat pass into the path of Mason Greenwood, who delicately chipped Mike Penders to ignite the Vélodrome (14’).
Greenwood’s strike shifted the mood, and Marseille carried that momentum into the break despite flashes of Strasbourg threat.
Gouiri doubles the advantage
OM emerged with renewed purpose after half-time. Emerson Palmieri’s pressing forced an error from Penders, and Gouiri reacted quickest. The Algerian international surged into the area and curled his finish into the side netting to make it 2-0 — relief washing over the stadium At that moment, Marseille looked reborn. Yet the fragility that has defined their season soon resurfaced.
A collapse all too familiar
Strasbourg halved the deficit in the 70th minute when Nanasi’s effort clipped the inside of the post and found the net. Suddenly, anxiety returned. Guela Doué went close with a downward header, and OM’s composure evaporated.
Marseille had chances to kill the contest on the counter, but indecision and poor execution proved costly. Strasbourg continued to push, and in a frantic finale, chaos reigned in the OM box.
After a goal-line clearance from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, disaster struck. Emerson’s clumsy challenge on Yacine Gessime left referee Francois Letexier with little choice but to point to the spot. Panichelli converted emphatically. Moments later, the final whistle was met with whistles and jeers.
THE STAT: Losing from in front
Olympique Marseille have lost 11 points from winning positions in the Ligue 1 this season, only Rennes (13) and Strasbourg (13) have lost more.
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