Marseille lose to Sturm Graz for a third straight Europa League defeat

Olympique de Marseille lost 1-0 away to Sturm Graz on Thursday in the Europa League. The defeat on matchday three was Marseille’s third in as many games in the competition. OM goalkeeper Jeffrey de Lange said he was disappointed with his team’s performance, as the club continue to struggle to get their European campaign going.

“We didn’t have the right attitude,” De Lange said after the match. The goalkeeper also singled out Marseille’s poor start and a difficult first half: “It’s difficult. The first half wasn’t good. We really started badly. It’s disappointing for me and the team, because it shaped everything that followed.” His assessment echoed Bruno Genesio’s comments on the opening phase of the game.

The coach described it as “a flat first half, not worthy of a European Cup match”. At his press conference, he also said his team “didn’t exist in the duels” and lacked aggression. Both reactions focused on Marseille’s problems from the opening minutes, with the scoreline ultimately going against them.

The European defeat comes alongside an uneven Ligue 1 campaign. Marseille sit ninth with 9 points after 7 matches. Their league record stands at 3 wins and 4 defeats, with no draws, while they have scored 14 goals and conceded 10. In their last five Ligue 1 games, the club have won twice and lost three times, again without a draw.

Marseille’s European campaign remains winless after three matchdays. De Lange summed up his feelings with disappointment at the team performance and its lack of attitude. Genesio, meanwhile, focused on the duels and aggression. Their criticism followed another defeat, while the league figures also show a record split between wins and losses.