Nantes Turn Marseille’s Red Card Into a Late, Familiar Lesson
Down to ten after 16 minutes, Marseille led at half-time but could not hold off Nantes, who won 2-1 with goals in the 84th and 90th minutes.
Ali Dali was sent off in the 16th minute, leaving the hosts to face Nantes with ten men—and, for a while, to make the visitors’ advantage in numbers look like a rather expensive privilege.
Eric Geyer put Marseille ahead in the 19th minute, driving a low shot from outside the box.
Antonio Mba headed in from close range in the 84th minute, his effort low and through the middle. Then, in the 90th, Eduardo Teixeira headed low from close range to complete FC Nantes’ 2-1 win in Ligue 1 Uber Eats on Friday.
Our preview expected Marseille’s usual 4-4-2 against Nantes’ 5-2-3, flagged the visitors’ run of wins in this fixture and identified the wide duels as key. Nantes finished with 19 shots to Marseille’s four, and 60 per cent possession.
Mba levelled, then Teixeira settled the score, earning the match’s leading individual accolade. José Manuel, introduced in the 62nd minute, provided an assist; the substitute’s contribution helped turn Nantes’ sustained pressure into something more than a statistical complaint.
For Marseille, Geyer’s opening goal was a bright answer to an evening that had gone wrong early. But the result leaves the preview’s central question answered in the least comforting way: Nantes have now beaten them in the three most recent meetings listed, and Marseille still have not found a way through this particular obstacle.