Olympique de Marseille staged a dramatic late comeback to secure their first away victory of the Ligue 1 season, overcoming Strasbourg 2-1 at Stade de la Meinau. This win not only ended Marseille’s recent winless streak against Strasbourg since 2022 but also propelled them to the top of the Ligue 1 standings.
Strasbourg Starts Strong but Marseille Responds
Strasbourg, unbeaten at home this season without conceding, looked set to extend their defensive resilience early on despite Marseille’s aggressive pressure. Timothy Weah’s initial effort deflected off Strasbourg defender Mamadou Sarr, forcing goalkeeper Mike Penders into a crucial save. However, the rebound fell to Amine Gouiri, who surprisingly failed to capitalize on the chance.
In an unexpected turn, Strasbourg broke the deadlock at the 17-minute mark. Emanuel Emegha timed his run perfectly against the offside trap, sprinting clear and calmly slotting past Marseille’s goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli. This goal lifted the home side’s confidence, spurring a swift attack where Diego Moreira’s precise pass found Valentín Barco, but the Argentine couldn’t connect cleanly.
Marseille Pushes Back Before Half-Time
Despite Strasbourg’s early dominance, Marseille regained control as the first half progressed. Gouiri was denied by Penders from a free-kick and then narrowly missed a one-on-one chance, keeping the scoreline level. Igor Paixão also tested Penders with a close-range effort, but the Strasbourg keeper remained vigilant, preserving the stalemate into halftime.
Controversial Goal Gives Strasbourg Temporary Lead
Shortly after the break, Strasbourg appeared to take the lead again. Emegha raced down the right flank, drew out Rulli, and set up Abdoul Ouattara, who scored into an empty net. Initially flagged offside, VAR overturned the decision, confirming the goal. Marseille’s frustration grew as Gouiri continued to miss opportunities, including a volley that went just wide.
Crucial Defensive Plays and Marseille’s Late Surge
In the final stages, Nayef Aguerd made two vital blocks, denying substitute Joaquín Panichelli twice to keep Strasbourg’s lead intact. However, Strasbourg’s lapse in possession deep in their half proved costly. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg delivered a pinpoint pass to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, whose initial shot was saved by Penders but followed up to score the equalizer.
Højbjerg nearly put Marseille ahead moments later, only to see his header strike the post. The decisive moment came in injury time: Emerson Palmieri’s header was pushed onto the crossbar by Penders, but Michael Murillo capitalized on the rebound, smashing the ball home to complete Marseille’s stunning comeback.
