OM – Amine Gouiri sends a strong message to his critics

An anticipated awakening

He needed a spark — and he created it. Silent since the start of the season, Amine Gouiri chose the Saint-Symphorien pitch to respond, and in style. Barely twenty-five minutes to change everything: a pinpoint pass for Matt O’Riley (69th minute), a splendid goal just after (79th), and suddenly, everyone remembered why OM had believed in him so much.

This Saturday, the Algerian striker didn’t just score — he reaffirmed his role in a team on the rise.

From frustration to liberation

Benched at kickoff in favor of young Robinio Vaz, Gouiri had a point to prove. Roberto De Zerbi, who advocates healthy competition within the squad, wanted a reaction. He got it — a brilliant one. From the moment he came on, the number 10 brought pace, precision, and verticality to an OM side that had been dominant but sterile.

His stats speak for themselves: 26 minutes, 5 successful passes out of 5, two dribbles out of three, two duels won — and two decisive actions. Clinical.

In his post-match words, the player didn’t look for excuses:

“I haven’t changed my game. I was just missing the goals. They’ll come, I’m sure of it.”

A message to the competition

In an attacking line where Paixão, Greenwood, and Aubameyang are all performing, spots are hard to earn. But Gouiri, calmly, reminds everyone that he remains a top-level player.

His gesture toward the bench after scoring — finger to his lips, eyes determined — said it all: no controversy, just the desire to prove himself again and again.

De Zerbi, clear-sighted as ever, praised “an exemplary reaction, a player who understood what was expected of him.” The Italian coach, managing team spirit without excess, knows that this kind of performance fuels the collective.

A rediscovered weapon for De Zerbi

With Gouiri at this level, OM has an extra weapon in its attacking rotation. His football intelligence and chemistry with O’Riley were strikingly obvious. In the sequence leading to the third goal, everything was there: timing, confidence, and finishing.

OM, provisional leader of Ligue 1, is discovering endless resources.

And for De Zerbi, it’s the sign of a mature group: “When players respond like this, it means everyone is fully involved.”

A turning point in his season?

This goal, Gouiri had been waiting for it far too long. Not just for the stats, but to breathe again. Since his arrival in Marseille, he had endured a rough start: minor injuries, fierce competition, and a delayed adaptation.

Tonight in Metz, everything came together.

The Lyon-trained player set the record straight, reminding everyone that he can be more than just a substitute — an X-factor, a reliable player capable of turning matches around.

The timing is perfect: just before the international break, just before a crucial home stretch at the Vélodrome. Marseille is moving forward, and so is Gouiri. And when both thrive, it’s usually a good omen.