Sporting gave up the lead against Marseille, their black beast

Marseille confirmed themselves as the black beast of Sporting in this group stage of the Champions League by beating them again at José Alvalade (0-2) after defeating them a week ago at the Vélodrome (4-1). The Lisbon side (6 points) relinquished the lead of group D to Tottenham, who have 7 after beating Eintracht, while the French (6) have bounced back after two starts with two consecutive defeats and from the bottom to the second.

If last Tuesday two mistakes and the sending off of goalkeeper Antonio Adán caused Sporting to lose, today Ricardo Esgaio suffered the misfortune of seeing two yellow cards in just three minutes, the second for making a penalty to Amine Harit, a nightmare for Lisbon at the back.

Guendouzi stepped up in Marseille from a penalty

Matteo Guendouzi converted the penalty, adjusting his shot so the ball hit the post before reaching the net. A goal and a red card shattered Sporting and Alexis Sánchez was able to extend the lead with a shot from outside the area that was deflected by Franco Israel, who replaced the suspended Adán.

VAR gives 0-2

Igor Tudor’s Marseille knew how to perfectly manage their numerical superiority and half an hour into the game they hit Sporting again. Mbemba probably put in a good pass down the right, Harit broke through the rival’s advanced defense despite playing in the ten and Alexis Sánchez pushed his cross into the net.

The referee initially disallowed Harit for offside but VAR made him correct the decision.

Changes to avoid winning

The ‘lion’ was ‘groggy’ and their coach, Rúben Amorim, introduced two changes after 0-2. One forced when young former Barça defender José Marsá came on for the injured Sebastián Coates, another distraction on a fateful night. Also, Sotirios Alexandropoulos rested striker Marcus Edwards to give the midfield more consistency.

The changes came into effect as Sporting’s unraveling was incomplete. Of course, Amorim left an unmarked Francisco Trincao in the dugout at half-time and his team barely bothered Marseille in attack.

Pedro Gonçalves’ two yellow cards in a row, the second for protesting (61′), surely ended the game as Marseille didn’t want to argue with a surrendering rival either.