Olympique de Marseille suffered a 2-1 defeat to Sporting Portugal in the third matchday of the Champions League on Wednesday evening in Lisbon. Down to ten men after Emerson's expulsion late in the first half, the Marseillais crumbled in the second period despite an early goal from Igor Paixão. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sharply criticized the refereeing.
Olympique de Marseille hoped to build on its positive momentum in the Champions League but endured a disastrous scenario against Sporting Portugal. Before the match, coach Robert de Zerbi had called it an 'important test.' From the early minutes, captain Leonardo Balerdi committed a gross foul on Luis Suarez (4th), narrowly avoiding a red card. Sporting dominated the start but failed to score.
The Marseillais responded ideally with a gem from Igor Paixão. Well served by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the Brazilian curled a sublime shot into the top corner (14th), giving OM the lead (1-0). The first half saw chances on both sides, including a save by Gerónimo Rulli against Suarez (38th). Emerson received a first yellow card for a deliberate handball (39th). Just before halftime, the referee awarded OM a penalty for a presumed foul by Maximiliano Araujo on Emerson (44th). But after VAR review, it was Emerson's simulation, earning him a second yellow and expulsion. OM thus finished the game ten against eleven.
In the second half, the Marseillais, starved of possession, struggled. Geovany Quenda hit the post (57th), and Luis Suarez was stopped by Rulli (60th). Geny Catamo, subbed on five minutes earlier, equalized with a crossed shot (69th). Fate struck again with a goal deflected by Benjamin Pavard off Alisson Santos' shot late in the match, securing victory for Sporting (2-1).
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did not hold back on Canal+: 'It's scandalous. The first yellow Emerson gets is scandalous. He couldn't do anything with his hand. The referees were not at the level at all tonight.' This defeat, the second in three matchdays after the loss in Madrid (2-1) and win against Ajax (4-0), leaves OM with three points and 18th in the standings. The streak of five consecutive wins across all competitions ends abruptly. Next up: Atalanta Bergamo at the Vélodrome on November 5.