Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 8, 20/10/2024
For the second week running, Olympique de Marseille would be facing off against Ligue 1’s bottom-placed team. However, unlike the 1-1 draw against Angers SCO, Roberto De Zerbi’s men would run rampant ahead of next week’s Le Classique and leave Michel Der Zakarian’s future at Montpellier HSC in doubt.
The Match
The focus was on Elye Wahi as Marseille visited the Stade de la Mosson. Life has not been easy for the striker since he left Montpellier for RC Lens in 2023 in a big-money move. Wahi struggled with expectations away from his boyhood club and there were signs of a similar story after some poor performances following a transfer to Les Phocéens this summer.
However, on familiar ground, Wahi would swiftly find the net. Marseille swept to a 1-0 lead within the first minute in a move started and finished by the striker. The Frenchman passed out wide to Mason Greenwood who found his fellow countryman Jonathan Rowe at the far post. Rowe tapped the ball towards Wahi who with a simple finish opened the scoring.
Despite the disappointing start the hosts still threatened on the counter, albeit striker Akor Adams consistently ended promising moves with his poor timing and worse finishing. Adams missed a huge chance to allow his team to draw level in the 34th minute. Arnaud Nordin’s deflected shot forced Gerónimo Rulli into a fingertip save that bounced off the crossbar. The rebound fell to Adams who with an open net fired his shot into the side netting.
Two minutes after this chance and Marseille would double the lead. Adrien Rabiot released Ulisses Garica who spotted Amine Harit unmarked in the box, and the Moroccan international powered his shot home. The collapse would be fully complete by the 40th minute when Pierre-Emile Højbjerg continued the misery with his first goal in French football as he drove forward on a counter-attack.
It had been all too simple for a Marseille team that could sweep through a chaotic defence and as the half-time whistle blew the stadium erupted in whistles. The break did not settle the discontent and the second-half kicked off to a cacophony of boos. If the mood in the stadium had not changed, then events on the field were similarly worrying for the hosts.
The 58th minute would see Marseille record their fourth. Wahi was found on a counter-attack. The striker did well to hold up the ball before driving forward. He found Greenwood who drifted into the box and from a difficult angle fired past Lecomte. Marseille refused to let up and searched hungrily for more goals to heap misery on their southern rivals.
Harit was brought down as he was through on goal by the second-half substitute Stefan Džodić. It was an easy decision for the referee, Clément Turpin, who brandished a straight red card for a player who had spent less than 10 minutes on the pitch. The Moroccan international would be involved again in the 73rd minute as he slipped the ball to Michael Murillo who crossed to Luis Henrique to make it five.
Two minutes later and Marseille thought they had scored their sixth. Harit’s pass found Greenwood who once again rifled a shot past Lecomte. However, Montpellier’s blushes were (somewhat) spared by the offside flag. The Mosson was flat. The only noise came from the few Marseille fans who had ignored the banning order and created a pocket of away fans.
Marseille Player Ratings
Gerónimo Rulli – 7
Ulisses Garcia – 7
Derek Cornelius – 7
Leonardo Balerdi – 7
Pol Lirola – 5
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 8
Adrien Rabiot – 7
Jonathan Rowe – 6
Amine Harit – 9
The Moroccan international’s performances have stepped up to a new level under De Zerbi. Harit was the attacking heartbeat of the team and behind so much of what was good about Marseille as they undid their southern rivals. He found his name on the scoresheet but more importantly, was a facilitator for his teammates.
Mason Greenwood – 8
After a few quiet performances in recent weeks, Greenwood was exceptional. The Englishman was crucial in opening the scoring, while his goal for the fourth was well-taken. The winger will be disappointed that his second of the night was ruled out for offside. However, he will be pleased about his performance ahead of next weekend’s tie against Paris Saint-Germain.
Elye Wahi – 8
A promising evening for the summer signing. It’ll be a night that Marseille will hope spark some confidence in their striker. Wahi was consistently involved in the build-up and had some threatening moments alongside his quickly-taken goal albeit there are still some questions over his finishing and Lecomte generally had the better of their duel.
Selected Montpellier Player Ratings
Benjamin Lecomte – 4
Téji Savanier – 4
Akor Adams – 3
An awful evening for the striker. He was either offside or making the wrong decision. Montpellier had a big opportunity to punish Marseille and level the scores early in the second half. However, Adams let the moment slip away and the visitors quickly exerted control.
