PLAYER RATINGS | Marseille 5-1 Le Havre – Five star Olympiens kick-off 2025 in style

George Boxall – from the Stade Vélodrome, Marseille.

THE MATCH

New Years’ celebrations were the order of the day for Marseille’s supporters as Roberto De Zerbi’s side underwent their first outing at the Vélodrome of 2025. The fresh start certainly rejuvenated the hosts, who came away with a dominent win to kick-off the New Year with a bang against a struggling Le Havre outfit.

It was an energetic beginning to the game, with De Zerbi’s side keeping the ball at the back and trying to put into motion the well-tested passing patterns. Yet Le Havre wouldn’t be baited into the press, as they kept compact in the middle of the park and looked to pounce on the break. Housni provided danger down the left hand side and the on-loan PSG man carved out the first chance of the game with a shot from the edge of the box which floated clearly wide of Rulli’s post.

Yet, OM would grow into the game as Rabiot tried his luck from distance, before his header from a corner only a few minutes later would need to be headed away by Ayew off the goal line. Mason Greenwood’s low strike from 30-yards had beaten Desmas but just about the right post in the process.

When OM needed a bit of precision and decisiveness, Rongier pops up as the unlikely provider. The Frenchman follows up on a loose pull-back across the edge of the box and finds the left-bottom corner with a killer finish. It was a goal which killed the confidence of Le Havre, and eased the nerves for the hosts. For the rest of the half it would only get worse for the Normand side when Bilal Nadir popped up with a strike on a tight angle that crashed in off the post. From then on OM looked as if they were cruising, with Neal Maupay getting in on the act with a headed goal and a Dart-themed celebration in front of the Virage Sud to emphasise the return of a certain feel-good feeling around the Vélodrome.

It continued into the second period, as Maupay spurned an opportunity for his second after a lucky break saw him one-on-one in the six-yard box. The former Brighton and Everton man went close again after being played over the top into the box by Greenwood, yet Maupay’s strike was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by a flying Desmas. But the goal-drought would only last around 20 minutes, as Greenwood found himself in a great position down the right side of the box and placed a ball on a plate for Wahi to finish into an open net. An unmarked Ulisses Garcia added a fifth ten minutes later with another finish in the six-yard box.

Olympique de Marseille Player Ratings

Géronimo Rulli, 5 – Despite not having a lot to deal with for large parts of the game, he proved decent off his line to intervene balls being played in behind (which have troubled OM in games gone similar games gone by). In terms of saves he had very little to do, much to the credit of Marseille’s defence and perhaps the discredit of HAC’s poor attacking display.

Derek Cornelius, 6 

Leonardo Balerdi, 6 

Amir Murillo, 5

Quentin Merlin, 7 – A solid enough performance with two assist to match, his flicked backwards header was well-timed for Neal Maupay’s decisive header which effectively sealed the game just before half-time. He looks to be gaining more confidence since returning from injury.

Bilal Nadir, 7 – On only his second start for the club, he scored his first professional goal: a great finish on the pivot which really put OM at ease in the first half. De Zerbi’s choice certainly paid off when it came to the 21-year-old Morrocan. It was unfortunate when he came off due to injury: but he should definitely earn more game-time when he can as he develops in De Zerbi’s system.

Valentin Rongier, 7 – The Frenchman is starting to reimpose himself in De Zerbi’s side, and this killer finish to open the scoring will certainly put him in favour with his coach. It completed an assured performance with the ball at his feat and organisationally to fill in with the absence of Hojbjerg.

Luis Henrique, 6 

Adrien Rabiot, 7 

Neal Maupay, 6 – The Former Brighton man nodded in an easy headed finish from close range to get back on the scoresheet and it topped off a steady performance up front. He was hard-working in the press and got into some great positions to try and find a second. Given that OM had already raced to a three-goal lead, a substitution in the second period seemed logical for De Zerbi.

Mason Greenwood, 6 – Another busy performance from the Englishman, who found himself in some good attacking position and threatened with a great technical display in flashes. One of these flashes included a well-placed assist for Wahi for the fourth goal

Havre Athletic Club Player Ratings

Arthur Desmas, 4

Etienne Youté, 3

Gautier Lloris, 5

Timothée Pembélé, 4

Yanis Zouaoui, 4

Abdoulaye Touré, 4

Yassine Kechta, 5

Daler Kuzyayev, 5

Loïc Négo, 5

André Ayew, 5

Ilyes Housni, 6

GFFN | George Boxall