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6 months ago
39 ARTICLE AD
In 2010, OM were eliminated from the Europa League by Benfica. Fourteen years later, a player from the Lisbon team will once again find himself on the road to Marseille, next month during the quarter-finals.
We like or don’t like Angel di Maria, we can recognize one thing from him. Longevity, life expectancy. The one who celebrated 36 years last month gives satisfaction to Benfica (15 goals – 11 assists in all competitions this season), the Lisbon club that he decided to return to last summer after a year at Juventus (2022 -2023).
With the Portuguese team, the Argentine winger will face Olympique de Marseille during the quarter-finals of the Europa League. A double confrontation (April 11 and 18) which we can assume is special for the 2022 world champion. Angel di Maria was already there fourteen years earlier.
Ben Arfa sees red
In March 2010, OM were eliminated in the round of 16 of the same C3, beaten in the return match at the Vélodrome stadium on a goal scored by Kardec in added time (1-2, 90e + 1). Ben Arfa had been expelled from Marseille (90e).
Besides Di Maria, Benfica had in its ranks some names that were known or would soon become so: David Luiz, Saviola, Cardozo, Luisao, Coentrao… Let’s hope for OM fans that Angel di Maria, for a long time enemy as a PSG player (2015-2022), does not cause misfortune to the Olympians again.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
