Andre Ayew's Olympique de Marseille were defeated 1-0 by Girondins de Bordeaux on Sunday as their Ligue 1 title hopes were dealt another blow.
The Ghana forward was sent off after protesting to the referee following OM’s 3-2 defeat to leaders Paris Saint-Germain last weekend and subsequently missed the trip to Bordeaux on Sunday.
The Black Star was sorely missed as, without him, Marseille struggled against Willy Sagnol’s highly-motivated Bordelais.
Rookie Cedric Yambere scored the only goal of the game—finishing powerfully past Steve Mandanda—on 60 minutes to send the Stade Chaban-Delmas into delirious celebration.
Marseille began splitting at the seams after falling behind, with Alaixys Romao lambasting the referee at every opportunity and Florian Thauvin stropping when substituted. They were ultimately unable to claw a goal back and indeed it was the home side who looked stronger in the game’s dying stages.
As the home supporters celebrated, coach Marcelo Bielsa was left to reflect on the Phoceens first back-to-back defeats of the season. The legendary coach has a worrying trend for forging exciting sides that ultimately run out of steam, and the same appears to be happening with the Olympians.
While there was an element of misfortune to their 0-0 home draw with Olympique Lyonnais and even the 3-2 defeat to PSG, against Bordeaux they looked leggy and dearly missed the drive and creative prowess of Ayew.
According to L’Equipe, the Ghanaians’ actions after the French Clasico with PSG were only punished with a one-match ban, meaning that the West African will be set to return for Marseille’s next match.
Bielsa’s outfit travel to La Beaujoie for a meeting with FC Nantes on Friday evening, before welcoming Jordan Ayew’s FC Lorient to the Stade Velodrome on April 24.
They are also due to face FC Metz, AS Monaco, LOSC Lille and SC Bastia before the end of the season.
While the run-in gives some cause for optimism, it may ultimately be too little too late.
With six games to play, OM find themselves fourth in the French top flight. They currently sit five points off leaders PSG, and four behind Lyon—both of whom have a game in hand.
Of similar concern to Bielsa is the steady climb of AS Monaco.
The Club of the Principality started the season sluggishly, but have found form in recent months and overtook Marseille with their 3-0 demolition of Dennis Appiah’s Stade Malherbe Caen on Friday evening.
While Ayew and his teammates may be hopeful that Monaco’s own European ambitions this season—as well as their stretched squad—may see them lose steam domestically, Leonardo Jardim’s side have demonstrated an admirably consistency.
Indeed, heading into the final furlong of the campaign, it is Monaco and not Marseille who are looking on course to claim that final Champions League qualifying berth.
Even Saint-Etienne, who sit one point behind OM in fifth place are looking stronger in the league. While ASSE have won four of their last five, losing none and accruing 13 points, Bielsa’s boys have lost three of their last six and managed only two victories in their last five matches.
There is also the lingering subplot of Ayew’s likely departure from the club in the summer.
Abedi Pele has insisted that the Black Star playmaker is keen to win the French title with Marseille, but is also desperate to play Champions League football and is prepared to move club to seek regular game time in Europe’s premier club competition.
Ayew’s title dream may have exploded with this latest defeat, can the influential Ghanaian star at least ensure that his beloved OM do not miss out on a return to the continental top tier?
At this rate, we may be set to see more tears from Ghana's golden son before the season is up...
