Lazio beat Marseille and Garcia

Simon Basten
Oct 25, 2023
3 min read

Season 2018-19

Game 3, Europa League Group H

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Stade Vélodrome, Marseille

Olympique Marseille Lazio 1-3

An important EL win made even more satisfying coming against former Roma boss

In Europa League the Biancocelesti had so far won 1 (Apollon Limassol 2-1 at home) and lost 1 (Eintracht Frankfurt 1-4 away).

This evening was potentially a decisive game against Olympique Marseille.

In the Europa League the French side had drawn 1 (Apollon Limassol 2-2 away) and lost 1 (Eintracht Frankfurt 1-2 at home). Les Olympiens really needed a win tonight to revive their European campaign.

The match

A mild evening in Provence-Alps-Côte d'Azur attracted about 30,000 spectators to the Vélodrome. It would have been more but both the popular ends behind the goals were closed due to a punishment by UEFA.

Lazio were not welcomed particularly well anyway as their team bus was pelted with stones and bottles on arrival at the stadium.

The French were without Florian Thauvin while Lazio had Luis Alberto and Joaquín Correa missing.

Lazio dominated the first half. The Biancocelesti took the lead in the 10th minute when Wallace imperiously headed home from a Lucas Leiva corner, 0-1.

The hosts played with passion but it was Lazio who had all the best chances. The Romans had five shots at goal, the most dangerous with Ciro Immobile who hit the post. Felipe Caicedo was also denied what looked like a clear penalty.

Lazio were compact, precise and well organised, arriving at the break deservedly in front. They frustrated the hosts with accurate, quick, one touch football.

In the second half OM threw themselves forward but with more energy than clear ideas. In the 48th minute Lazio lost Leiva due to a muscular injury and Adam Marusic came on while Marco Parolo became playmaker. For the home side Morgan Sanson had a good opportunity but he missed badly.

It was still Lazio however who looked sharper and they doubled their lead just before the hour mark. In the 59th minute a perfect counterattack by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Immobile was finished off by Caicedo. Three touches and 0-2.

Inzaghi then took off Senad Lulic who was on a yellow and introduced Valon Berisha.

Marseille played higher now and Dimitri Payet had a shot that went just wide.

In the 66th minute Rudi Garcia too went for his first changes bringing on Clinton N'Jie for Sanson and Valère Germain for Kostas Mitroglou.

Lazio were in control but in the 74th minute lost another player through injury as Caicedo hobbled off and was replaced by midfielder Danilo Cataldi.

Olympique based their game on physicality but had trouble creating clear cut chances apart from a long-range effort by Luiz Gustavo saved by Thomas Strakosha. In the 80th minute they brought on Bouna Saar for Jordan Amavi for their final onslaught.

In the 86th minute the contest was reopened as Payet scored on a freekick but Strakosha was not impeccable on the occasion, 1-2.

The crowd revived and pushed "les Olympiens" to try and snatch a late equaliser. Their hopes were short-lived however as in the 90th minute Marusic stole the show and definitely sent Lazio home and dry. The Montenegrin curled a sublime left footed shot past Steve Mandanda and into the top hand corner to put Lazio two goals clear again, 1-3.

An excellent performance by Lazio and an important and prestigious win. All the more satisfying coming against former Roma coach Garcia and former Roma player Kevin Strootman. Garcia in particular had been arrogant towards Lazio and acted unjustifiably superior in his giallorosso days.

Lazio were now second in the group; Eintracht Frankfurt 9, Lazio 6, Apollon Limassol 1, Olympique Marseille 1.

In two weeks' time, at home against today's opposition, the Biancocelesti already had the chance to book their place in the second round group phase but the objective was to win the group a to avoid stronger teams in the draw.

Who played for Marseille

Mandanda, Sakai, Rami, Kamara, Amav (80' Saar), Luiz Gustavo, Strootman, Sanson (66' N' Jie), Payet, Ocampos, Mitroglou (66' Germain)

Substitutes: Pelé, Caleta-Car, Lopez, Radonjic

Manager: Garcia

Who played for Lazio

Strakosha, Wallace, Acerbi, Radu, Caceres, Parolo, Leiva (48' Marusic), Milinkovic-Savic, Lulic (62' Berisha), Caicedo (74' Cataldi), Immobile