AJ Auxerre delivered a stunning performance on Saturday night, defeating Olympique de Marseille 3-0 at Stade Abbé-Deschamps. This victory ended Auxerre's three-month winless streak, where they hadn't triumphed since their last match against Lille. The result marked Marseille's second defeat against Auxerre this season, mirroring their earlier 3-1 loss at home.
Marseille's coach Roberto De Zerbi was visibly frustrated following the match, particularly over decisions made by the officiators. "We played poorly. They were much stronger than us. But the penalty on [Quentin] Merlin is clear-cut. The red card, I believe, the referee... (he checks the footage) it’s a scandal. He wasn’t calm. We played badly, that's certain. Auxerre deserves to win," he spoke to DAZN, illustrating his discontent. This comment reflects not just the disappointment of the coach but also the struggles experienced by the team throughout the match.
The game began quietly, with both teams trying to find their rhythm. Marseille started cautiously, missing early chances, including attempts by Amine Gouiri and Mason Greenwood. Auxerre, on the other hand, had little luck before Gaëtan Perrin lit up the pitch with his extraordinary goal at the 34th minute. After receiving the ball on the right flank, Perrin cut inside, evading defenders, and unleashed a curling left-footed strike. His effort hit the crossbar before crossing the line, marking his eighth goal of the Ligue 1 season.
The second half saw controversies escalate for Marseille. Early on, they had a goal disallowed due to offside. Shortly after, Derek Cornelius' loss of composure resulted in him receiving his second yellow card, leaving the team to play the last half-hour with just ten men.
Despite being shorthanded, Marseille pressed forward, aiming to find the equalizer. Yet, it was Auxerre who struck next, taking advantage of the numerical advantage. Hamed Traoré was fouled after intercepting the ball during one of Marseille’s counterattacks, leading to Jubal being awarded a penalty, which he successfully converted to extend the lead to 2-0 at the 77th minute.
The match concluded dramatically with Jubal scoring again during stoppage time, marking his second goal of the game. After taking corner, he was positioned perfectly to drill the ball home, effectively sealing the result at 3-0.
The match certainly reveled different moods on both sides. On one hand, AJ Auxerre celebrated breaking their winless streak and showing resilience, proving themselves formidable opponents even against tougher clubs like Marseille. This match was pivotal as it brought them out of the relegation zone, live to fight another day.
Conversely, Marseille continues to struggle under pressure. With this defeat, they remain highly ranked but are inching closer to danger with looming threats from teams like Lille, who sit just five points away. It's back to the drawing board for De Zerbi, as he aims to encourage his players and tighten their defenses to regroup before their next match against Nantes.
While AJ Auxerre's fans rejoiced at this much-needed victory, the result has raised serious questions about Marseille's ability to contend for honors as they drift off the pace. De Zerbi's reactive approach to officiative rulings during post-match statements highlights not just a setback but possibly systemic issues within the club.