Marseille 1 - 2 Villefontaine (379789636)

Due to an all-day shower, 858 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at Inter Marseille Arena. Juan Érroz was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Carlos Santiso and Frits Berings. Marseille had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. Lineup: Blanchon - Robert, Le Brun, Barbieux, Théron - Noret, Beckman, Payet, Lecoq - Demestichas, Rask.

Villefontaine decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. Starters: Briois - Sarra, Gigon, Gourdet - Baltar, Perruche, Trimarchi, Maaring, Teodorini - Odinga, Caridade.

Today, Marseille's strategy involved concentrating on the flanks for their attacks. Villefontaine had several good opportunities to take the lead, especially 17 minutes in when M. Odinga came up alone against R. Blanchon who managed a block. Villefontaine's J. Perruche got himself booked for a foul. The player down was V. Rask. The Marseille bench looked worried for a while, but in the end he managed to get up. M. Maaring was having a great game - if anything the pouring rain seemed to be spurring him on! After 32 minutes a very unfortunate collision in the penalty area led to Villefontaine's J. Perruche being carried off the pitch and replaced by N. Boiron. Villefontaine's M. Odinga managed to lose the defenders as he advanced down the right wing and scored, putting the visitors ahead after 33 minutes. 0 - 1. It was a bad day for the usually speedy A. Gigon. The mud seemed to slow him down. Marseille had to make a substitution after 36 minutes. J. Robert limped off the field and was replaced by A. Byrdal. It was 0 - 1 at the break. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Villefontaine, with 64 percent of the ball.

Although the whole team were struggling to impress, Marseille's A. Beckman was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 46 minutes. Y. Beckedorff was given a chance to change things around. With 46 minutes played, the Marseille coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. G. Lerín came on, Y. Demestichas had to leave the fray. S. Lecoq's early cross saw the defenders caught out of position and the alert V. Rask was able to pounce and roll the ball past the hapless goalkeeper to score for Marseille. 1 - 1. The rain made it hard for players like G. Lerín to show their technical control of the ball on this soggy day. R. Blanchon looked great 70 minutes into the match after stopping a shot from the middle of the penalty area from the visitors' M. Odinga. Villefontaine's A. Trimarchi was shown a yellow card after 71 minutes for slicing down an opponent. After 80 minutes, Villefontaine's N. Boiron made his way through the middle and nonchalantly placed the ball out of the keeper's reach, putting the visitors up 1 - 2. Villefontaine had most of the ball, with 65 percent of possession.

The most dominating Marseille player was without a doubt A. Byrdal. However, Y. Beckedorff made a disastrous appearance. Villefontaine's top performer was clearly N. Boiron. M. Baltar turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 1 - 2.