PLAYER RATINGS | Marseille 2-2 Toulouse – OM blow golden opportunity to go top of the league

Ligue 1 Matchday 14, 29/11/2025

Marseille had to come back from a goal down to get themselves in front against Toulouse, but a Mark Mckenzie long throw became the downfall of De Zerbi’s side in injury time, as Santiago Hidalgo pegged back the hosts and stopped them from taking advantage of PSG’s earlier defeat to Monaco this evening.

THE MATCH

Roberto De Zerbi’s men thought they had completed the turnaround, after TFC’s Emersonn opened the scoring in the first half, and goals from Paixao and Højbjerg put them top of the league on Saturday evening. But a long throw from Mark Mckenzie undid all that work, as Santiago Hidalgo’s near post header saw OM drop two points in injury time.

The opening periods of the match saw little goal-mouth action, as Toulouse dropped into a low organised block and were hoping to pounce on the counter attack. After the first 15 minutes Les Violets did absolutely that, but they were helped by an error from Nayef Aguerd – on his return to the side – who was bullied by Emersonn and the TFC striker’s effort on goal rattled off the right post and into the back of the net. OM would then have to be patient, to try and play through a low-block which was clearly disrupting their rhythm. The best chance for the hosts came from a freekick swung by Emerson from the right side, as Restes flapped at the ball and left an open net but Højbjerg’s cross was horrifically misplaced and went out for a throw-in, summing up a frustrating first period for Les Olympiens. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s effort from a corner had to be cleared off the line just before the break.

An improved OM came out for the second period with attacking intent, as Robinio Vaz was called upon to replace Angel Gomes up front and move Aubameyang to a left attacking position with Paixao. Yet, Weah put his side into trouble and was lucky that Frank Magri did not make him pay after the American’s error saw him two on one with only Nadir defending before a misplaced pass. Højbjerg’s strike from the edge of the box struck the crossbar, after a deflection off Nicolaisen as the game really opened up.

TFC had yet another chance to double their lead as Aaron Dønnum’s attempted chip beat Rulli but bounced off the crossbar as Emersonn failed to beat Rulli. Les Violets would come to regret it, when Bilal Nadir’s ball over the top of the TFC defence found Igor Paixao – and the Brazilian used his pace to beat the defender, then the goalkeeper before simply slotting into an open net.

Les Olympiens would then complete the turnaround just minutes later, as OM shifted the ball from left to right, and Aubameyang whipped a lovely cross into the back post which was snuck home by Højbjerg’s header. The Vélodrome erupts, as the Dane ripped off his shirt in celebration in front of OM’s Virage Nord.

But then the moment of febrility, as Mark Mckenzie dried the ball and stepped up to take a long-throw reminiscent of those that have become the trend in the Premier League this season. A combination of Geronimo Rulli and Leonardo Balerdi couldn’t get to the ball, as Santiago Hidalgo sprung at the back post to convert a dramatic equaliser. Cue the Toulousain celebrations, and another opportunity wasted for Les Olympiens to take advantage of PSG’s defeat to Monaco.

OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE PLAYER RATINGS

Geronimo Rulli – 5

Nayef Aguerd – 4

It was the Moroccan ‘s return to action for OM after a week out with chronic pain caused by a pubalgia, and it showed when he was bullied off the ball by TFC striker Emersonn and directly leading to the away side’s opening goal. Whilst improved in the second period, the Moroccan was clearly not in the right physical condition to be playing in the full 90 – as a recovering Balerdi came on to replace him near the end of the second period.

Benjamin Pavard – 5

Emerson Palmieri – 5

Angel Gomes – 4

Timothy Weah – 5

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 5

Bilal Nadir – 5

Mason Greenwood – 4

Marseille rely heavily on Greenwood’s creativity to unlock defences, but whenever the Englishman is having an off day – it affects the whole attacking line. He went missing for periods of the first half, and was starved of the ball. Even in OM’s attacking play in the second period, the Englishman was far from impressed.

Igor Paixao – 6

A complicated first period for the Brazilian, who seemed to slip and slide whenever he was on the ball. But he would grow into the game during the second half. Vaz’s substitution allowed him some more space down the right side, and his attacks became more and more incisive along with his dribbling. Nadir’s ball over the top of the TFC defence was played precisely, and Paixao used his pace to get between the defender and the goalkeeper, and used his pace to beat both of them before slotting into an empty net.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 4

Others:

Robinio Vaz – 5

TOULOUSE FC PLAYER RATINGS

Guillaume Restes – 5

Rasmus Nicolaison – 4

Mark McKenzie – 6

Charlie Creswell – 5

Djirbril Sidibé – 5

Dayann Methalie – 5

Christian Casseres – 5

Alexis Vossah – 5

Frank Magri – 5

Aron Donumm – 5

Emerson – 5

Others:

GFFN | George Boxall – Reporting from the Vélodrome, Marseille