The 2026-25 Ligue 1 season came to a close last weekend after the simultaneous kick-offs of Matchday 34. So now it’s time to take stock of a chaotic campaign for OM.
The season’s major talking points ⚠️
It’s hard to know where to start, such was Marseille’s season marked by one chaotic event after another.
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First of all, there was that improbable fight between Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe on the very first Ligue 1 matchday after an 11-v-10 defeat to Rennes. That altercation could have remained a dressing-room incident, but OM chose to make a strong statement and moved both players out right at the end of the transfer window.
Despite that surreal start to the season, OM had managed to get back on track, but everything blew up again at the beginning of February. The day after the heaviest defeat in the club’s history against PSG (5-0), and following a run of disappointing results, Roberto De Zerbi throws in the towel and leaves Marseille.
That marked the start of the collapse of the project led by Pablo Longoria, who was then dismissed by Frank McCourt. A few days later, Medhi Benatia also publicly tendered his resignation, but after being persuaded by the American owner to stay until the end of the season, Benatia made a highly surprising U-turn.
Despite the appointment of Habib Beye, OM never recovered from that apocalyptic month of February.
The assessment in France 📝
After a completely botched opening match in Ligue 1, OM had bounced back well, notably with a prestige home win over PSG on Matchday 5.
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But despite some good results, the club from Marseille still dropped points that seemed theirs for the taking, conceding avoidable goals in stoppage time (Toulouse, Paris FC, Strasbourg, Angers).
Still on the heels of the Parisian club and Lens until Matchday 20, OM then saw the institutional crisis irreparably affect matters on the pitch. Despite a burst of pride in the match against OL (3-2), the Marseillais slowly sank in Ligue 1.
Gradually surrendering in the race for the Champions League, the Olympiens then tried to shift their focus to a possible Coupe de France triumph after PSG’s elimination. But another penalty shootout exit against Toulouse sent OM hurtling toward yet another trophyless season.
Not far from missing out on Europe altogether, Marseille still managed to clinch a Europa League spot on the final matchday, a long way from their ambitions at the start of the season. OM even suffered one more heartbreak, losing the Trophée des Champions to PSG despite leading 2-1 with less than a minute left.
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The goals conceded late in matches cost Marseille very, very dearly this season.
The assessment in Europe ⭐️
Before the start of the Champions League, the stated objective was not to finish in the Top 24 but simply to qualify for the next edition. But just like on the domestic stage, nothing went as planned.
After a frustrating defeat in Madrid (2-1), OM crushed Ajax at home (4-0). That victory was followed by two defeats with absurd storylines against Sporting (2-1) and Atalanta (0-1), once again with goals conceded late on.
Even so, OM got back on track with two hard-fought wins against Newcastle (2-1) and Union Saint-Gilloise (2-3).
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OM then needed just one point from two matches to secure qualification for the play-offs, but first suffered a heavy home defeat to Liverpool (0-3).
Then came the nightmare. Away at Club Brugge, OM lost 3-0 and were eliminated from the Champions League on goal difference, following a goal by Benfica’s goalkeeper in the closing moments of Benfica’s match against Real Madrid.
They delivered 🤩
It’s hard to find names who stayed afloat throughout the entire Olympien season, so much so that the players seemed mentally drained early in the campaign.
Timothy Weah was still one of the few players who consistently performed all year, thanks in particular to his relentless work down the right flank. One of the rare players to be applauded during the team’s final home match of the season at the Vélodrome.
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The most expensive signing in OM history, Igor Paixao delivered despite a slightly slow start. In the end, he posted 12 goals and 7 assists in all competitions, including key contributions in important matches.
Despite a nonchalance that remains just as frustrating, Mason Greenwood is still this OM side’s number one attacking weapon, and he proved it again this season with 26 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.
They raised questions 🤔
Much like what happened internally, this season was also marked by the failure of the team’s leaders on the pitch. Leonardo Balerdi is the clearest example. Crushed by the weight of the armband, the Argentine defender endured a miserable campaign. His extraordinary collapse in Le Classique was the most striking example.
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Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg also struggled throughout the season. Despite regaining the captain’s armband under Habib Beye, the Dane finished exhausted and was too rarely the leader OM needed.
After an exceptional first season, Geronimo Rulli also came to symbolize the Phocéens’ general meltdown. Less decisive and often at fault, the goalkeeper still managed to rally himself for the final two wins of the season.
Finally, a good number of new signings failed to produce the expected return, including Arthur Vermeeren, Himad Abdelli, Benjamin Pavard, Hamed Traoré, Ethan Nwaneri and CJ Egan-Riley.
Summer 2026 ☀️
For now, it’s hard to know what awaits OM this summer, aside from an inevitable austerity drive due to the absence of Champions League football.
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After Medhi Benatia’s departure, the appointment of Grégory Lorenzy as sporting director appears to be dragging on.
However, a number of key players are expected to leave this summer, led by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Leonardo Balerdi. Meanwhile, Benjamin Pavard has already returned to Milan. Bilal Nadir, too, will leave the club on a free.
What about Quinten Timber and Mason Greenwood, OM’s few remaining marketable assets? The former could bring in a healthy capital gain, having been bought for just four million euros this winter, while the latter has publicly expressed his desire to stay in Marseille.
In any case, the room for maneuver will be limited, given that OM must also make the signings of Nayef Aguerd and Facundo Medina permanent this summer.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.
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