Roberto De Zerbi lauded Brighton’s remarkable response as they clawed back from a two-goal deficit at the Stade Velodrome to secure a vital point against Marseille, reigniting their aspirations of advancing in the Europa League.
Brighton’s thrilling comeback against Marseille at the Stade Velodrome left manager Roberto De Zerbi full of praise for his team’s remarkable resilience. Trailing by two goals early in the match, Brighton displayed incredible determination to secure a 2-2 draw, keeping their Europa League hopes alive in Group B.
The turning point in the game arrived in the 88th minute when substitute Joao Pedro calmly converted a penalty, drawing Brighton level. This dramatic moment occurred after a foul on Tariq Lamptey in the box, highlighting Pedro’s composure under pressure.
The first half had seemed like a nightmare for Brighton, with Marseille striking twice in a span of just two minutes. Former Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba opened the scoring with a well-placed shot, followed by Jordan Veretout’s strike, which slipped through the hands of goalkeeper Jason Steele. The latter goal was a result of Lewis Dunk’s unfortunate mis-kick that led to a turnover.
Despite their early setbacks, Brighton managed to withstand Marseille’s pressure, even though they often lost possession carelessly. At halftime, they found themselves down by only two goals, providing a glimmer of hope for a comeback.
Brighton’s revival commenced early in the second half when Pascal Gross capitalized on Kaoru Mitoma’s assist, slotting the ball into the net. From that point on, De Zerbi’s team dominated the game, pressing forward in search of an equalizer.
Their perseverance ultimately paid off when Joao Pedro stepped up to take the penalty and secured the crucial point that kept Brighton’s Europa League aspirations alive. De Zerbi acknowledged that he had concerns about his injury-plagued squad’s recent performances, particularly following their 6-1 defeat to Aston Villa. However, he praised his team’s incredible reaction in the match against Marseille, emphasizing their ability to recover from adversity.
This hard-fought draw in the Stade Velodrome serves as a testament to Brighton’s resilience and determination, and it will undoubtedly be a memorable moment in their Europa League campaign.
“I want to be honest more than other days, other games,” De Zerbi said. “I think we are not playing well, it’s a very tough period for us in this moment. It’s difficult to show our quality like last season, like a month ago.
“It’s a period where we have to work, but after that in football it’s important the quality of the play and the players, but it’s important playing with heart, passion and the right behaviour.
“I’m really proud of the performance today, of the players. After the defeat 6-1 at Villa Park and the second goal to close the first half at 2-0, this reaction is incredible. For it I am very happy.”
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