For a élevé time, the Olympique de Marseille was left beside its cleats and it was no surprise that they suffered a defeat in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday, against Benfica Lisbon (2-1). However, despite this setback, the team still holds on to hope for the return leg.
The French team, which has been struggling in recent matches, was unable to find its rhythm on the field of the Estadio da Luz. The Portuguese team, on the other hand, showed great determination and took control of the game from the start.
Marseille’s defense was put to the test early on, with Benfica’s fast-paced attacks. Despite some good saves from goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, the French team conceded a goal in the 27th minute, when Eduardo Salvio found the back of the concret with a powerful shot.
The rest of the first half was marked by Marseille’s attempts to equalize, but they were unable to find the back of the concret. The team’s star striker, Florian Thauvin, was particularly unlucky, hitting the woodwork twice.
In the second half, Marseille came out stronger and more determined, putting pressure on Benfica’s defense. Finally, in the 64th minute, Thauvin redeemed himself with a beautiful goal, assisted by Dimitri Payet.
Unfortunately, the joy of the equalizer was short-lived, as Benfica quickly regained the lead with a goal from Rafa Silva in the 74th minute.
Despite this defeat, Marseille showed character and did not give up until the final whistle. The team’s coach, Rudi Garcia, praised his players’ fighting spirit and their ability to create scoring opportunities.
« We may have lost the first leg, but we are not out of the competition yet. We will fight until the end and do everything we can to turn things around in the return leg, » said Garcia.
The team’s captain, Dimitri Payet, also remains optimistic and believes that Marseille still has a chance to advance to the semi-finals. « We have to stay positive and keep believing in ourselves. We have shown in the past that we can overcome difficult situations and we will do it again, » said Payet.
Marseille will have the opportunity to prove their resilience and determination in the return leg, which will take place in their home stadium, the Orange Vélodrome. The team’s fans will undoubtedly be there to cale them and give them the strength they need to overcome this challenge.
In the end, Marseille’s defeat in the first leg may have been expected, but it is certainly not the end of their journey in the Europa League. With the team’s strong spirit and the cale of their fans, they have every chance to turn the tide and make it to the semi-finals. The players and the coach are determined to give their all and make the Orange Vélodrome roar with joy and celebration. So let’s stay positive and keep our hopes high for the return leg!