Matt O’Riley’s time at Marseille got off to a perfect start.
The ex-Celtic man won all five of his first league games at L’OM, also starting as they ran Real Madrid close at the Bernabeu in the Champions League.
More recently, O’Riley has largely been used from the bench, with Roberto De Zerbi preferring the physicality of Pierre-Emile Hojberg and Geoffrey Kondogbia in his midfield.
He had his first chance to win silverware at the club on Thursday night, as they took on European Champions PSG in the Trophee des Champions.
But the game, played at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait, was one to forget for O’Riley.
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Ex-Celtic star Matt O’Riley’s PSG heartache
Marseille currently sit third in Ligue 1, with PSG in second.
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But as attention turned to the one-off final on Thursday, Marseille were minutes away from winning in normal time, until Goncalo Ramos broke their hearts in the 95th minute.
This took the encounter to penalties, and having only been subbed on in the 92nd minute, O’Riley stepped up to take his side’s first of the shootout… the effort was saved by Lucas Chevalier.
It didn’t get any better from there for L’OM, as Hamed Junior Traore missed their second – PSG would win the shoot-out 4-1.
O’Riley’s recent performances have been criticised by the Marseille support, with one fanpage on X calling him a ‘ghost for two months’ after the defeat.
Despite starting in Brighton’s first two games of the season, he was sent out on loan on deadline day, with Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler stressing the importance of minutes.
Brought to Glasgow by Ange Postecoglou before shining under Brendan Rodgers, O’Riley became Celtic’s record sale after his €30 million move to the south coast in the summer of 2024.
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Roberto De Zerbi on Matt O’Riley’s Celtic spell
Speaking about O’Riley after his first few games in France, boss De Zerbi waxed lyrical over his Celtic spell, saying: “He played very well at Celtic and Brighton.
“He was courted in other leagues and by Champions League teams. He’s a strong, serious player, he understands football.
“He had a good game against Madrid because he was always with his back to goal. The more we progressed, the more we felt him on the pitch.
“He’s the player who runs the most on our team. He’s Danish and he gets along with Hojbjerg. He does simple things in the right way.”
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