MATCH REPORT | Marseille 1-1 Sevilla – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang features as De Zerbi hands first Vélodrome minutes to Gomes, Medina, & Egan-Riley | OneFootball

Olympique de Marseille were back in action at the Vélodrome just two months after the end of a season which saw Les Olympiens seal a return to the UEFA Champions League. Sevilla came to town with former Manchester City and Leicester City striker Kelechi Inheanacho leading the line with the former Montpellier man Akor Adams. Meanwhile it was a first taste of Velodrome action for two of OM’s summer signings, as Angel Gomes and Facundo Medina made De Zerbi’s starting XI.

But it would be a familiar face in Mason Greenwood to open the scoring with a low headed effort after a pinpoint cross was swung from the left side by Ulisses Garcia – a sixth goal in pre-season for the Englishman.The Away side responded as the hosts were exposed by a pullback to Djibril Sow, who converted expertly on the edge of the box with a confidently-curled finish past Rulli. A match dominated by a slow pre-season rhythm, the start of the second half would see CJ Egan-Riley come on to make his first few minutes at the Vélodrome – and his first contribution would be a goal line clearance after a mistake from Rulli saw a Sevilla attacker chip towards an open net.

Roberto De Zerbi asked his side for higher intensity in the second period, and it saw glimpses of the quick play that defined OM last season. Gomes impressed in the middle of the park after initially starting in a deeper role, linking up play and already playing deadly balls through to both Greenwood and Rowe on either wing – and enough spectacle in his mazy runs through the Sevilla defence. At the hour-mark it was an opportunity for the youngsters to come on, with Bakola and Vaz coming on as well as Jeffrey De Lange getting a rare outing between the sticks.

But the biggest substitution saw a return to action at the Vélodrome for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, after he re-signed for the club only two days ago. It’s clear the Gabon international hasn’t lost a yard of that pace after a season in Saudi Arabia, coming on during the 70th minute and looking sharp for the remainder of the game. A typical pre-season affair, and OM couldn’t construct enough during the latter await Premier League side Aston Villa next weekend.GFFN | George Boxall – Reporting from Stade Vélodrome, Marseille.