PLAYER RATINGS | Marseille 3-1 Shakhtar Donetsk: Jean-Louis Gasset gets off to winning start to secure Europa League progression – Get French Football News – Footymercato.com

UEFA Europa League, 22/02/24

Olympique de Marseille secured their spot in the next round of the Europa League thanks to a 3-1 (5-3 agg.) victory over Shakhtar Donetsk. Les Phocéens had to come from behind to secure the victory in what was Jean-Louis Gasset’s first game as interim manager. 

It had been a week of significant upheaval at Marseille, and you could feel it around the Vélodrome. Gennaro Gattuso had lost his job after a poor run of results and without a Ligue 1 victory in 2024. His departure felt inevitable and it was confirmed on Tuesday. Gasset arrived in his place, becoming OM’s fourth manager of the ongoing season. 

Much of Les Phocéens fanbase targeted the players, the club’s hierarchy and owner Frank McCourt with their pre-match criticism. However, on the pitch, there was a job to do – qualification was on the line. OM got off to a nightmare start after Jonathan Clauss committed a clumsy foul inside the box, with Heorhiy Sudakov tucking home from the spot. 

Aubameyang – Europa League top scorer

However, Marseille quickly struck back through the clinical Pierre-Emerick Auabameyang, who slotted home calmly after being slipped through by the influential Amine Harit. The Gabonese striker now has seven in the Europa League and is therefore the top scorer in the competition.

Marseille had grown into the game throughout the first half and by the second half, they were well on top. However, there were few clear-cut chances and it wasn’t until Ismaïla Sarr came off the bench that they took the lead. The Senegalese international had a game-changing influence on the match and got his goal from a long ball into the box. Aubameyang missed the initial effort, but Sarr did not, finishing first time to give Marseille the lead. 

The victory was then confirmed by Geoffrey Kondogbia minutes later, who profited from a misunderstanding in the Shakhtar Donetsk to tuck home first time from a tight angle on the volley. Marseille progress and Gasset gets his reign as manager off to a winning start. The dark clouds looming over the Vélodrome lift slightly. 

Marseille player ratings

Pau Lopez – 6

Chancel Mbemba – 5

Samuel Gigot – 6

Set the tone early on, winning his duels in the opening minutes and incarnating the reaction that Marseille so desperately needed to show after months of stagnation. By no means an error-free or faultless performance, but one that showed that Marseille still have fight in them. 

Bamo Meïté – 5

Quentin Merlin – 5

Amine Harit – 6

A typically Harit-esque performance. He had joy between the lines and looked dangerous, notably setting up Aubameyang for the equaliser. A relatively accomplished playmaking effort from the Moroccan, whose end product is still the subject of criticism. 

Geoffrey Kondogbia – 6

Azzedine Ounahi – 4

Jonathan Clauss – 4

Clauss’ every action is being scrutinised after OM’s hierarchy publicly called into question the France international’s commitment and mentality. He began the game poorly, conceding the penalty with a clumsy trailing leg. Whilst he managed to tidy up elements of his game, his set-piece delivery was consistently poor. 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 7

The Europa League’s top scorer with seven goals. Whilst the former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea forward has frequently underwhelmed in Ligue 1, he has been prolific in European competition. He only needed one chance, and he took it. His equaliser sparked the revival that allowed Marseille to regain in confidence and ultimately secure the qualification.

Faris Moumbagna – 4

GFFN | Luke Entwistle