Benjamin Pavard’s Week Takes a Turn for the Worse: A Series of Unfortunate Events!

L’Olympique de Marseille missed a key chance to take the lead in Ligue 1 on Saturday night at Bollaert. They were defeated 2-1 by a determined RC Lens team, which proved to be sharper and mentally stronger. Mason Greenwood put the hosts ahead early, but Marseille faltered, falling victim to two avoidable defensive errors. Benjamin Pavard, who had a nightmarish performance after already struggling on Wednesday in Portugal, had a penalty awarded against him and scored an own goal. Substituted in the second half, Pavard epitomized Marseille’s current struggles. His initial appearances had shown promise, as he played reliably and scored in his debut against Lorient in September.

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<p>Positioned as a right center-back in a three-man defense on Saturday, he initially managed to contain the lively Saïd and complemented Emerson's forward runs. For the first fifteen minutes, his experience and timing seemed to bring some stability to a sometimes shaky defense. Marseille, who dominated early on, appeared in control until everything unraveled during a seemingly harmless play, highlighting their current doubts. <em>“Marseille supporters, I’m sorry. This defeat is on me; I made mistakes and take full responsibility. Wearing this jersey means being impeccable, and I wasn’t tonight. I promise to give everything to regain your trust and honor this jersey. Thank you for your support, even in tough times. We will rise together,”</em> the defender stated on his Instagram story. Pavard's confidence crashed, reflecting the overall sentiment of the Marseille squad.</p>

<h3>Two More Errors</h3>

<p>After Lisbon, the nightmare continued. On Wednesday, Pavard was involved in both goals conceded against Sporting, first failing to cover Geny Catamo, who was just onside, and then inadvertently directing a shot from Alisson Santos into his own net. Just 72 hours later in the North, the scenario repeated itself. In the 22nd minute, the 2018 World Champion clumsily fouled Odsonne Édouard in the box, granting the former Paris player a penalty to equalize. Unfortunately for Marseille, following halftime, Pavard mispositioned himself during a Thomasson corner and accidentally turned the ball into his own goal (2-1, 53rd minute). His two costly mistakes effectively sealed the match's outcome: **Pavard transitioned from an experienced player to a symbol of Marseille's defensive woes. Notably, he became the first player in Ligue 1 since 2006 to concede a penalty and score an own goal in the same match. Statistically, his performance was disheartening. He won just one of two ground duels, completed only one tackle, and made no interceptions. With only two clearances and one recovery, his defensive impact was almost nonexistent. Adding a penalty and an own goal to that makes for a very heavy toll.</p>

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<p>His torment ended in the 61st minute when Roberto De Zerbi replaced him with Bilal Nadir, a strong decision reflecting the Italian coach's concerns. <em>“The two defeats can be attributed to Pavard’s performances. He was unlucky in Lisbon with an offside by inches, then deflected the ball into his own net. I haven’t seen the footage from tonight, but I'm sure he fouled his opponent. He was again unlucky with the own goal. He must not lose his confidence; he's an experienced player. He should remain calm and happy playing for OM. I'd like to have several Pavards on my team. Last year, we won when we didn’t deserve it; this time, it was the opposite,”</em> De Zerbi detailed. With competition intensifying, Leonardo Balerdi, who remained on the bench Saturday, could soon overtake Pavard in the pecking order, even though Balerdi’s own recent appearance was disastrous. Recruited this summer for his top-level experience, Pavard must act swiftly to avoid sinking deeper into this troubling situation. For him, the week has been a nightmare, and only an immediate response can prevent a prolonged spiral of negativity for Marseille.</p>