New boss, same problems: Brest smash Marseille on Habib Beye's debut

Something is rotten at the Stade Velodrome. It’s serious, it’s huge, and there’s no solution on the horizon. Parting ways with Roberto De Zerbi and hiring Habib Beye was the Olympique Marseille board’s attempt to change the club’s fortunes. A failed one, as it seems for now.

On his debut in L’OM’s dugout, the Senegalese and his men were easily crushed by Brest 2-0, and, especially after the opening period, they could consider themselves lucky they weren’t down more than two goals.

Ludovic Ajorque’s header brace - scored in the 10th and 29th minutes - sealed the deal for the home team, even though they wasted a number of chances in front of Geronimo Rulli’s goal.

After the break, Beye subbed on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Marseille showed some energy and dignity, but it still wasn’t enough even for a consolation goal, as Mason Greenwood wasted a penalty kick in the 82nd minute.

L’OM are still fourth in Ligue 1, but the path they are taking leads nowhere but to disaster.

Marseille's box was Ludovic Ajorque's playground during the first half. Brest's robust striker totally dominated the visitors' defence, bagging a brace in the span of 19 minutes (10th and 29th) with two headers - one after a confused reaction of L'OM's defence and the other superbly finding the bottom right corner and putting the ball into the net off the post.

When - or better said, if - anyone expected Olympique's reaction, their hopes were in vain, as the only question at the break was: How on Earth isn't Brest's lead even more convincing?

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Daouda Guindo, Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe, and Junior Diaz all threatened L'OM keeper Geronimo Rulli, while Ajorque hit the bar, being extremely close to a first-half hat-trick. The visitors' new boss Habib Beye could only watch his team's despair from the dugout.

All in all, Marseille could consider themselves fortunate they were only 2-0 down at the break.

The Senegalese tactician reacted at halftime, subbing on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the midfielder Arthur Vermeeren, aware that his team needed to chase the rivals lead and hope for a miraculous comeback.

The Gabonese's entry injected new energy in the visitors' ranks, but the lack of creativity and fluency in their game was apparent. Quinten Timber on the one side and Dina Ebimbe on the other attempted from distance inside the first quarter of an hour after the break, but their efforts were easy preys for the two custodians.

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Two minutes after the hour mark, Amine Gouiri's header went narrowly wide of the post, while Igor Paixao wasn't any luckier a couple of minutes later. The clock was ticking and Brest's sturdy fortress was holding out without a hitch.

In the final 20 minutes, Ethan Nwaneri got a chance, but even the Arsenal loanee couldn't lift the spirits of the demoralized team. A ray of hope for Olympique appeared in the 82nd minute when Mason Greenwood went down in the box and the visitors were awarded a penalty. The Englishman decided to take it himself and he wasted it, as Gregoire Coudert stopped his strike.

At that moment, the last Marseille's hope vanished and their defeat was inevitable. They are still fourth in Ligue 1, but Lille and Rennes have a chance to come closer and seriously jeopardize L'OM's Champions League dreams. Missing the UCL next season would really would be a catastrophe.

Ligue 1 Round 23

Friday

Brest - Olympique Marseille 2-0 (2-0)

/Ajorque 10, 29/

Saturday

19.00: (1.70) Lens (4.05) Monaco (4.70)

21.00: (1.95) Toulouse (3.50) Paris (4.40)

23.05: (1.13) PSG (12.0) Metz (18.0)

Sunday

17.00: (3.05) Auxerre (3.45) Rennes (2.45)

19.15: (4.10) Angers (3.50) Lille (2.00)

19.15: (2.50) Nantes (3.30) Le Havre (3.10)

19.15: (2.15) Nice (3.50) Lorient (3.60)

22.45: (2.40) Strasbourg (3.50) Olympique Lyon (3.10)

***odds are subject to change***