Olympique Marseille 3-1 Lens Player Ratings: Amine Gouiri Grabs Brace in One-sided Ligue 1 Clash

Olympique Marseille recorded a 3-1 victory over Lens in their Ligue 1 match at the Stade Vélodrome. Let's take a look at Marseille vs Lens player ratings from the match.

Marseille made a strong start and took control of the game early. Amine Gouiri opened the scoring in the third minute with a composed finish. Shortly after, Ethan Nwaneri doubled the lead with a long-range effort, putting the home side firmly in charge.

Lens struggled to respond and found it difficult to create clear chances. Marseille continued to control possession and limit the visitors’ attacking threat for much of the match.

In the second half, Lens managed to score a late goal, but it did little to change the outcome. Gouiri scored his second goal in the 75th minute to restore Marseille’s two-goal advantage and secure the win.

Marseille’s early dominance proved decisive, as they managed the game effectively and claimed all three points at home.

Key Takeaways

1. Amine Gouiri scored early to give Marseille the lead in the third minute.
2. Ethan Nwaneri doubled the advantage with a long-range goal a few moments later.
3. Gouiri scored his second goal in the 75th minute to seal the 3-1 win.

Olympique Marseille Player Ratings vs Lens

Here are Marseille player ratings from the Ligue 1 fixture:

Goalkeeper

Gerónimo Rulli - 7.0: A fairly quiet evening for the keeper, but he did what was asked of him. He had absolutely no chance with the consolation goal he conceded. What stood out to us was his incredible 98% pass accuracy, launching attacks from the back. He also made a solid save late in the game to deny any hopes of a comeback. A reliable performance.

Defenders

Leonardo Balerdi - 6.5: A bit of an up-and-down game from the captain. He made a couple of key clearances and interceptions when Marseille were under pressure. However, we noticed he lost possession 12 times which is far too many for a central defender. He seemed to struggle in his duels at times, but overall did enough to secure the win.

Nayef Aguerd - 7.0: A very composed performance before he was substituted. From our perspective, he was crucial in building play from the back with 95% pass accuracy. He was solid defensively, reading the game well and making important interceptions. Looked very comfortable on the ball and rarely seemed troubled.

Facundo Medina - 7.0: A typical, all-action display from the Argentine. He was aggressive in the tackle, winning all his attempted tackles, and wasn't afraid to push forward. His long-range passing wasn't always perfect, but his intent was always positive. He was a solid wall at the back for the most part.

Midfielders

Igor Paixão - 7.5: Provided the assist for the opening goal and was a constant threat throughout. His energy was infectious, and he contributed significantly in defence with four interceptions. He lost possession a few times but his willingness to take risks and run at defenders was key to Marseille's attacking verve. A very good shift.

Timothy Weah - 7.5: An excellent all-around performance on the flank. He grabbed an assist for Gouiri's second goal and was defensively diligent, making four clearances. We were impressed by his strength, winning five of his seven duels. He was a tireless worker for the team.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg - 8.0: The engine room of the team. He was simply everywhere. He got a brilliant assist for the second goal and was the orchestrator in midfield, creating two chances. His defensive work, including five clearances, was just as important. A dominant and commanding display.

Quinten Timber - 7.0: Did the simple things effectively. He was a steady presence in midfield, breaking up play and keeping possession moving. He won a majority of his duels and provided a solid platform for the more attacking players to shine. An unsung hero in the middle.

Forwards

Amine Gouiri - 9.0: The undisputed Man of the Match. Two goals, three shots on target, and a performance full of menace and clinical finishing. He was just on another level. The Lens defence had no answer for his intelligent movement and sharp shooting. An absolutely electrifying performance and the highest-rated player on the pitch.

Ethan Nwaneri - 8.0: What a talent. The youngster scored a fantastic goal from outside the box and looked incredibly sharp. His three successful dribbles showed his confidence and ability to take on defenders. He was a livewire until he was substituted, a genuinely exciting player to watch.

Hamed Junior Traoré - 6.5: He linked play nicely at times but seemed to be on the periphery compared to his fellow attackers. A quiet game for him, he couldn't quite find the final pass or shot to make a telling impact. He wasn't bad, just overshadowed by the brilliance around him.

Substitutes

Mason Greenwood - 6.5: Came on and looked eager to get involved, having one shot blocked.

Benjamin Pavard - 6.0: Slotted in seamlessly for Aguerd and helped maintain the team's defensive structure.

Darryl Bakola - 6.0: Brought on to add fresh legs, worked hard but didn't have much time to influence proceedings.

Matt O'Riley - 6.0: A late change to see out the game, kept it simple in midfield.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - N/A: Replaced the hero Gouiri for the final ten minutes.

Manager

R. De Zerbi - 8.5: His game plan worked to perfection. Setting his team up to attack from the very first whistle caught Lens completely off guard. The early goals were a direct result of his aggressive tactics. Managed the game well with his substitutions. A tactical masterclass.

Lens Player Ratings vs Olympique Marseille

Check out Lens player ratings from the one-sided clash:

Goalkeeper

Robin Risser - 5.5: A difficult night for the goalkeeper. He was left horribly exposed for all three goals. He did make two saves which prevented the scoreline from being even more embarrassing. Couldn't have done much more, in our opinion. His defence let him down badly.

Defenders

Matthieu Udol - 5.0: A torrid evening for the left-back. He was dribbled past twice and struggled immensely against Marseille's dynamic attack. He was caught out of position multiple times and looked off the pace. A night to forget and arguably the worst performer.

Malang Sarr - 6.5: It feels strange to rate a defender highly in a 3-1 loss, but Sarr was immense. He won an incredible nine duels and made five tackles, fighting a lone battle at times. He was let down by those around him but can hold his head high after a warrior-like effort.

Ismaëlo Ganiou - 5.5: Like his defensive partners, he had a tough time dealing with the home side's forwards. He only won one of his six duels in the air and on the ground. He looked shaky and lacked the authority needed to organize the backline. Not his finest hour.

Midfielders

Ruben Aguilar - 5.5: Worked hard but was ultimately ineffective. He was overrun in midfield and struggled to make any impact on the game offensively or defensively. He just couldn't get a foothold in the match before being substituted.

Mamadou Sangaré - 7.0: The one shining light for Lens. He provided a brilliant assist for the consolation goal with a clever through ball. He battled hard, recovered the ball nine times, and always looked to play forward. A performance full of quality and fight.

Saud Abdulhamid - 5.0: A really poor display. He was a passenger in midfield, losing seven of his nine duels and frequently giving away possession. He was completely outclassed by his Marseille counterparts. From our perspective, he was one of the biggest disappointments.

Adrien Thomasson - 6.0: The captain tried to rally his troops but it was a losing cause. He missed a big chance that could have changed the complexion of the game. He worked tirelessly but lacked the quality to make a difference on the day.

Forwards

Florian Thauvin - 5.5: A frustrating and anonymous return to the Vélodrome for the winger. He picked up a yellow card and offered very little attacking threat. We expected him to be a key player, but he was a ghost for most of the match.

Odsonne Édouard - 5.0: A very poor outing. He was isolated up front, missing a notable chance and making just five passes in his 59 minutes. He offered no threat and his substitution was no surprise. He needs to offer much more.

Wesley Saïd - 6.0: Looked busier than the other forwards and tried to make things happen. He was aggressive, maybe too much so, earning a yellow card. However, his end product was lacking, and he struggled to create anything clear-cut.

Substitutes

Rayan Fofana - 7.0: Made an instant impact, coming off the bench to score a well-taken goal. Showed the fight that was missing from some of the starters.

Abdallah Sima - 6.0: Provided a bit more energy than Édouard but couldn't really test the Marseille defence.

Andrija Bulatovic - N/A: Not on long enough to receive a rating.

Anthony Bermont - N/A: A late cameo with the game already lost.

Florian Sotoca - N/A: Introduced late on and had little time to make an impact.

Manager

P. Sage - 5.0: He got his tactics completely wrong. His side was passive and defensively naive, allowing Marseille to run riot in the opening stages. The game was lost before he had a chance to react. His team looked unprepared for the intensity of the opposition.

Man of the Match

Amine Gouiri was the match-winner for Marseille, scoring two goals in the home game.

Worst Performer

Lens defender Matthieu Udol was unable to live up to the expectations.