‘We knew Lyon were nervous’ – Neal Maupay explains 10-man Marseille’s late victory

Olympique de Marseille drew level on points with Paris Saint-Germain and AS Monaco at the top of Ligue 1 to close out matchday five after recording a dramatic late victory against arch-rivals Olympique Lyonnais. 

Marseille were down to ten men within the first five minutes after captain Leonardo Balerdi (25) received two quick yellow cards. His first came within seconds of the match beginning after a heavy tackle on Corentin Tolisso, and the second a short while later for a foul on Alexandre Lacazette. 

Marseille were under immense pressure but managed to enter the second half with the scores goalless after Gerónimo Rulli saved his second penalty of the campaign. The game would come alive with a flurry of goals, Duke Ćaleta-Car opened the scoring for Lyon, before Pol Lirola levelled the game. 

Marseille would take the lead with an effort from substitute Ulisses Garcia, before, Lyon in injury time levelled the game with Rayan Cherki scoring a backheel on his first start of the season. However, the points would go to Marseille, after Jonathan Rowe recorded a 95th minute winner. 

Maupay: ‘We’re sure of what we’re doing, even if it wasn’t our best game’

Asked to explain Marseille’s late comeback, Neal Maupay stated that the result was never in doubt for Les Phocéens. “At half-time, even with a man down, we said to ourselves we could get something here. The former Brentford and Everton striker continued, “Even when they equalised at the very end, we knew they were nervous. We believe in our strengths. We’re sure of what we’re doing, even if it wasn’t our best game.” GFFN | Nick Hartland