Marseille were held to a 0-0 draw with Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, despite playing much of the game with ten men after Achraf Hakimi was sent off early in the second half.
Despite the disappointment of the result, the Parisians remain in first place in the Ligue 1 standings, a comfortable seven points from second-place Lens.
The game was the 101st meeting between sides and was not short of entertainment despite no side finding the back of the net.
Marseille began the better side fashioning their first chance of the game in the 4th minute, but Milik was unable to convert from close range, sending his header over the bar after he was left completely unmarked in the box.
However, PSG thought they had scored in the 14th minute when Peres fired into his own net when trying to block a Neymar cross. But VAR ruled that the Brazilian was just offside when receiving Di Maria’s pass.
Minutes later, Arkadiusz Milik had scored for Marseille, only for the goal to be struck off by VAR who adjudged that Pol Lirola had given the assist from an offside position.
Both teams continued to have a go at each other, but with no side unable to break the deadlock before the first half whistle went.
After the restart, Marseille had the opportunity to impose their superiority on the game after Hakimi was shown a red for bringing down Ünder, who was through on goal.
But the hosts could not make their numerical advantage count, despite the raucous support of the home crowd with Valentin Rongier and substitute Konrad de la Fuente guilty of missing good chances for as ‘Les Olympiens’.
Missed opportunity for Marseille
Marseille would be kicking themselves for letting this enormous opportunity to win against PSG slip.
The home team had a raucous home crowd and luck on their side, but failed to capitalise and reduce the gap between them at the top.
Jorge Sampaoli’s side, despite their numerical advantage, ended the game with less than 50% of the ball while they only had one shot on target throughout the game.
Although they still remain fourth, they are 10 points away from PSG, but with a game in hand.
Marseille struggles in goal continue
Apart from missing out on three points, Marseille also missed out on scoring for the second consecutive game in all competitions.
The result was the fifth time the hosts have failed to score in their last seven matches in all competitions and show how much in need this team are of a creative spark.
Veteran attacker Dimitri Payet was lively and tried his best to create something for the home team, but could only do so much.
Sampaoli will hope his side can find their scoring boots against Nice in their next game.
Messi goalless league start goes on
And so Lionel Messi‘s wait for a league goal goes on.
The Argentine is no stranger to rivalries having spent years battling with Real Madrid as a Barcelona player. He had always starred in the El Clasico, but on Sunday, he could not influence the game.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner, fresh from two UEFA Champions League goals in midweek, had a header tipped over and curled a trademark strike narrowly wide. But that is all he could afford in a disappointing display which sees his wait for a league goal extend to four goals.
