Marseille Return to Winning Ways vs. Bordeaux, but Missed Chances Will Cost Dear

Marseille knew going into Sunday’s evening match with Bordeaux that anything but a win would see Paris Saint-Germain end the weekend on top of the league for the first time this season.

After recent defeats to both Lyon and PSG, they must have been worried that lightning was going to strike for the third time when Marcelo Bielsa’s side went behind to Thomas Toure’s second-half strike. The 3-1 victory puts them back on top, but things are far from perfect at the Stade Velodrome.

Bordeaux played well, but Marseille had dominated possession and enjoyed the lion’s share of chances. Bad decisions from Florian Thauvin, saves from Cedric Carrasso and a whole host of shots off target kept the scores level after 45 minutes.

According to WhoScored, Marseille attempted 12 shots to Bordeaux’s five—eight of them were off target in what was a frustrating first half for the home side.

Claude Paris/Associated Press

Marseille came out of the blocks quickly in the second half, forcing Carrasso to make a double save from Mario Lemina and Giannelli Imbula. Baptiste Aloe, starting his first game for the club, also hit the crossbar. At that moment, you felt that it might not be their night.

With their only shot in the first 15 minutes of the second half, Bordeaux pressed left-back Benjamin Mendy, and the OM defender made a vital mistake. Nicolas Maurice-Belay pushed forward and laid the ball to Thomas Toure, setting up the 20-year-old for his second goal of the season.

This was a pattern that Marseille fans knew all too well. They had their chances against both Lyon and PSG, but in both games they failed to convert and lost what could turn out to be vital points.

In both of those defeats, Marseille enjoyed more time on the ball than their opponents, but they also fired more shots off target. The 1-0 defeat to Lyon was tough to take. The defeat away at PSG could have been avoided.

On Sunday night, Bielsa’s blushes were spared when both Lemina and Andre-Pierre Gignac headed past Carrasso to give Marseille the lead. The victory was then wrapped up when substitute Michy Batshuayi converted after Carrasso saved Imbula’s shot.

Claude Paris/Associated Press

Earlier in the season, Marseille held a seven-point lead at the top of the league, but now they are facing challenges from both PSG and Lyon. Unless Marseille can become more clinical in the final third, their title challenge is unlikely to go the distance.

It sounds strange to be critical of a side that has scored the most goals in Ligue 1. It is one thing to go ahead by two goals and see out the victory, but it's another to have to come back from a goal behind to win 3-1.

It will take its toll on the club and the players if they are having to battle back to win games. It may be exciting to watch, but with the attacking talent Bielsa has, it shouldn’t be so difficult.

Marseille’s defensive record puts them sixth in the table. Even Lille—who haven’t won in the last five games—still have a better record at the back.

Undoubtedly, the talent is there to go all the way this season. No team is shooting more than Marseille and no team has scored more goals from open play. But the scary situation is that the statistics could be even better.

"

5 - Marseille played their 5th Ligue 1 game with at least 20 shots, 3 more than any other team. Festival.

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) November 23, 2014"

Gignac’s goal takes him to 11 for the season, but next on the list is Thauvin with three. If they are going to continue to lead the league from the front, they need the other players in the team to take their chances and share the burden with the French international.

The 3-1 result looks fantastic, but then you dig a little deeper and analyse the performance. Marseille need to become far more clinical in front of goal if they are going to have any chance of winning the Ligue 1 title this season.