PLAYER RATINGS | Marseille 1-1 Lille: Bafodé Diakité nets late equaliser to deny OM

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, 14/12/24, Round 15

Gerónimo Rulli put in a heroic display as Olympique de Marseille drew against Lille OSC at the Vélodrome (1-1). He was, however, beaten late on as Bafodé Diakité’s late header rescued a draw for LOSC, who trailed for much of the encounter.

The Match 

Lille started this side the brighter, looking to expose Marseille’s high line and getting in behind with ease. Jonathan David had a glorious chance to give LOSC the lead but, one-on-one against Geronimo Rulli, he opted to go past the goalkeeper and failed. Minutes later, and from their first meaningful spell of possession, OM took the lead. Intricate work in midfield lured the Lille players, offering space in behind. Adrien Rabiot’s run was found and he picked out Quentin Merlin, who cut inside his defender and fired past Lucas Chevalier. 

The one-way traffic continued. David forced another save from Rulli before the Argentine was almost punished for a poor ball out from the back. Edon Zhegrova offered the ball to David, who once again opted for the dribble, rather than the shot. It was the same result. Zhegrova then missed another one before the break. LOSC’s dominance, however, was not reflected in the scoreline with OM scoring from their only shot on target in the first half.

It was more of the same at the start of the second half as David and Rulli continued their battle. Once again, it was the latter that came off on top with the Canadian’s poked finish well saved. OM almost gave themselves a cushion as Neal Maupay leapt on Gabriel Gudmundsson’s weak back pass, rounding Chevalier before striking the post with a shot from a tight angle. 

The game lulled before the grand finale. Rulli pulled off another great save, making a reflex stop to prevent Leonardo Balerdi’s deflection from levelling the scores, but there was nothing that he could do about Bafodé Diakité’s header in the 87th minute. Both sides showed ambition to get the win as tempers flared. Substitute Pol Lirola was red-carded for an awful challenge and Roberto De Zerbi was booked for his protests but neither side could find a winner. 

A draw is perhaps a fair reflection of a game that LOSC trailed for large periods, despite dominating the game and creating the better chances. Having missed the chance to register back-to-back defeats at the Vélodrome, AS Monaco can overtake Marseille should they beat Stade de Reims this evening.

Marseille player ratings

Geronimo Rulli – 8

This was a miraculous performance from the Argentine shot-stopper who single-handedly – quite literally – kept Marseille in the game, emphatically winning his battle with David and continuing to prove decisive in the second half, making a big save from Balerdi. Two considerable errors, a missed pass and a missed clearance, went unpunished on an evening where (almost) everything went his way.

Geoffrey Kondogbia – 6

Leonardo Balerdi – 5

Michael Murillo – 3

The weak link in the Marseille defence, he was always a yard behind, which when playing against a high line, is punished. It afforded LOSC lots of chances in the first half and his lack of aerial presence proved costly in the second half.

Quentin Merlin – 7

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 4

Valentin Rongier – 5

Luis Henrique – 5

Adrien Rabiot – 6

Decisive with his assist for Merlin, he is looking more at ease in a more advanced role an ran the midfield for OM with his bursting runs and balls into the final third. However, his decision-making remains inconsistent in a role that he is learning on the job and some of his actions, be it shots or passes were rushed.

Mason Greenwood – 6

Neal Maupay – 4

Lille player ratings

Lucas Chevalier – 5

Gabriel Gudmundsson – 4

Alexsandro – 6

Bafodé Diakité – 7

Covered excellently throughout and his distribution was key in helping LOSC exploit Marseille’s high line. Had his strikers been more clinical, he may have had an assist to his name too. 

Aïssa Mandi – 5

Ngal’ayel Mukau – 5

Benjamin André – 4

Matias Fernandez-Pardo – 5

Hákon Arnar Haraldsson – 7

He was indispensable out of possession, setting the example, hounding the opponent and winning all of his duels on the night. In possession, he was expansive, always looking to put his team on the front foot and finding his teammates with his progressive passes. 

Edon Zhegrova – 5

Not the most dazzling display from the Kosovo international, who did nonetheless put the ball on the plate for David to equalise. Like the Canada international, he lacked the finishing touch on his chance and was replaced at half-time by Mitchel Bakker (5), with the substitution likely a result of his ongoing pubalgia issue. 

Jonathan David – 3

A profligate evening from the Canada international, who kept getting himself in the right positions but was incapable of applying the finish. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle