Marseille 3-1 Athletic Club: Five key takeaways from pre-season friendly
The Olympians sealed a comfortable home win in tonight’s match.
Marseille took on Athletic Club in a pre-season friendly fixture at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday, August 9. First-half goals from Angel Gomes and Igor Paixao sealed a solid 3-1 win for the home side.
Gomes opened the scoring in the 10th minute after a fine move initiated by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The English midfielder put his side in control with the opener, but Oihan Sancet drew the scores level with a scrappy goal just after the half-hour mark.
Igor Paixao then scored a stunning long-range goal in the 40th minute. That strike put the home side in control, as they dominated Athletic Club in the second half. The hosts added a late third goal in the 86th minute through Tadjidine Mmadi, sealing the victory.
Marseille maintained their three-match winning streak before the start of their Ligue 1 campaign on August 21, when they face Strasbourg.
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Important things we learned from Marseille vs Athletic Club:
1. Angel Gomes back in starting contention
Angel Gomes, once considered one of the up-and-coming English starlets, had a tough time under former head coach Roberto De Zerbi. The Italian clearly did not rate the former Manchester United player, allowing him to leave on loan for Wolverhampton Wanderers in February. However, having scored the opener in tonight’s game, he has made a case for a second chance to Bruno Genesio.
2. Igor Paixao continues top form
Igor Paixao has been in sensational form in his side’s pre-season friendlies. The 26-year-old Brazilian scored the second goal of the night with a long-range stunner that flew into the bottom corner past a helpless Alex Padilla. This marked his third goal in as many friendlies. Leeds United are trying hard to sign him this summer, and the player himself has not disappointed tonight.
3. Bilbao squad looks paper-thin
Athletic Club’s self-imposed rule of signing only Basque-origin players makes them an endearing case to neutrals, but it also leaves them at a massive disadvantage in today’s transfer market. This summer, the La Liga side has not signed even a single player. Meanwhile, they have let go of 10 players on loan or through permanent transfers, including attacker Unai Gomez. This leaves their squad well short of bodies with the league campaign approaching.
4. Good day for Marseille defence
Les Phoceens’ defence conceded 45 goals in Ligue 1 last season; only six teams had a better defensive record. The French side looked defensively resolute in tonight’s match, keeping the visiting side’s forwards quiet for long stretches in the contest. Having further strengthened their defence with the signings of Timothy Weah and Facundo Medina, the Olympians look well set for the next campaign.
5. Visitors fail to create opportunities
Visiting head coach Edin Terzic would be slightly disappointed with his team’s performance in the opposition’s half. The Basque side failed to create much in terms of goalscoring opportunities. Their only goal of the night came from a rebound, which Oihan Sancet converted, but apart from that effort, Jeffrey De Lange had little to deal with.
Who won Marseille vs Athletic Club pre-season friendly?
Marseille won the match 3‑1 at the Stade Velodrome.
Who scored in Marseille vs Athletic Club pre-season friendly?
Angel Gomes opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Oihan Sancet equalised for the visitors just after the half‑hour mark. Igor Paixao restored the French side’s lead in the 40th minute with a long‑range strike. Tadjidine Mmadi sealed the win with a late third goal in the 86th minute.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.