# Olympique Marseille wins season opener amid management shift > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/olympique-marseille-preseason-friendlies-2026 > Updated: 2026-08-22T23:00:17.000Z. Sources: 59. Developments: 7. Olympique Marseille launched its 2026-27 Ligue 1 campaign with a dominant 4-0 victory over RC Strasbourg at the Stade Vélodrome. While the first half remained scoreless, Marseille took control after the break, fueled by a brace from Amine Gouiri—which included a penalty—alongside goals from Abdallah and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. Strasbourg’s efforts were further hampered after Samir El Mourabet received a direct red card in the 59th minute following a VAR review for a foul on Højbjerg. Following the match, midfielder Himad Abdelli highlighted the team’s collective desire for redemption after a difficult previous season, while also crediting new coach Bruno Genesio for bringing “serenity and calm” to the squad. During the match, Marseille supporters from the ‘South Winners’ group displayed a large ‘Viva Roja’ tifo, which some interpreted as a protest against club management or a symbolic strike against centralized French authority. Beyond the pitch, the club is experiencing significant organizational shifts. Following the arrival of Stéphane Richard as president, CEO Alessandro Antonello has officially departed. Financial constraints continue to dictate transfer strategy, with Marseille reportedly setting a €25m asking price for Amine Gouiri. Recent developments following the Strasbourg victory highlight individual player trajectories. Young forward Keyliane Abdallah scored his first professional goal after coming off the bench, drawing interest from clubs in France and Spain, though he is expected to remain at the club. Meanwhile, captain Neal Maupay, who was left on the bench during the opener, scored the lone goal for the reserve team in a 1-1 draw against Fos. Manager Bruno Genesio was in attendance to observe players with limited recent first-team minutes. ## Claims - Marseille defeated Strasbourg 4-0 in the Ligue 1 season opener. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Samir El Mourabet received a direct red card in the 59th minute. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Amine Gouiri scored two goals for Marseille. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Keyliane Abdallah scored in the 89th minute. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg scored in stoppage time (90+6'). (corroborated by 2 sources) - Hugo Oliveira made his official debut as Strasbourg manager. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Marseille holds first place in the Ligue 1 standings after one match. (single source) - Strasbourg is at the bottom of the league standings. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-22: Olympique de Marseille players Keyliane Abdallah and Neal Maupay make headlines Keyliane Abdallah scored his first professional goal for Marseille, while Neal Maupay scored for the reserve team to boost his chances of returning to the first-team rotation under Bruno Genesio. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/olympique-de-marseille-defeats-strasbourg-4-0-in-season-opener ### 2026-08-20: Olympique de Marseille defeats Strasbourg 4-0 in Ligue 1 opener Olympique de Marseille defeated RC Strasbourg 4-0 in their Ligue 1 opener, led by a brace from Amine Gouiri. However, the club faces ongoing financial pressure and potential player departures. 35 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/olympique-de-marseille-announces-departure-of-general-manager-alessandro-antonello ### 2026-08-18: Olympique de Marseille faces Strasbourg in Ligue 1 season opener Olympique de Marseille kicks off the Ligue 1 season against RC Strasbourg under new coach Bruno Genesio amid squad changes and financial restructuring. 23 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ruddy-buquet-appointed-to-referee-om-vs-strasbourg-season-opener ### 2026-08-09: Athletic Club faces Olympique de Marseille in preseason test Athletic Club faces Olympique de Marseille in a major preseason friendly at the Vélodrome, serving as a key test for manager Edin Terzic's squad before the new season begins. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/athletic-club-faces-olympique-de-marseille-in-preseason-test ### 2026-08-05: Olympique de Marseille wins pre‑season friendly as French clubs gear up for new season Marseille beat Al‑Shahania 3‑0 in a pre‑season friendly; Nîmes trains with new trial players and deals with a stadium lease dispute ahead of the new French football season. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/olympique-de-marseille-wins-preseason-friendly-as-french-clubs-gear-up-for-new-season ### 2026-07-24: Olympique de Marseille 0-3 defeat by OGC Nice in rainy preseason match Marseille were beaten 0‑3 by Nice in a rainy preseason friendly; a minute of silence honored Eric Roy. The club plans a final friendly vs Atlético Madrid on Aug 14 and is adopting a low‑key transfer strategy,保留 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/olympique-de-marseille-to-face-atltico-madrid-in-final-preseason-friendly ### 2026-07-22: OGC Nice to face Olympique Marseille in televised pre‑season friendly on July 25 OGC Nice will play Olympique Marseille in a behind‑closed‑doors friendly on July 25 at Marseille’s Robert‑Louis‑Dreyfus centre, broadcast live on Ligue 1 Plus. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ogc-nice-to-face-olympique-marseille-in-televised-preseason-friendly-on-july-25 --- Cite as: Olympique Marseille wins season opener amid management shift. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/olympique-marseille-preseason-friendlies-2026