48 hours in Marseille – a photo essay of Brighton in Europe
Brighton made their Europa League bow with an away game against Marseille. For those Albion fans who journeyed to the South of France for the historic occasion, this was about far more than 90 minutes of football.
There was the chance to explore the historic city of Marseille. Even the Old Port, where Brighton fans were told not to go. Much wine and beer was drunk and many dishes of traditional French cuisine, straight out of the sea.
Matchday was all about what it is like to follow your team in Europe. The bus journey in and out of the Stade Velodrome. The lock in afterwards. Even the shambles of waiting nearly three hours to be let out of the stadium. All part of the fun.
As for Veldorome itself, what an arena. With its concrete curves, its tent-like roof and the relentless and hostile atmosphere created by the Marseille ultras, it is an experience unlike anything in English football.
The game itself obviously wasn’t bad, either. Brighton recovered from giving away two goals in the space of as many first half minutes to come from behind and draw 2-2.
Pascal Gross pulled back the first before Joao Pedro was the calmest man in Europe, slotting home an 88th minute penalty despite a wall of noise pouring down on him from the terraces. Pedro even had the gall to celebrate in front of the home ultras.
Whilst Pedro was busy doing that, it was bedlam in the away end. Brighton fans scaled fences to celebrate and almost – almost – out sung the Marseille fanatics.
Luckily for us, regular WAB contributor Martin Denyer captured the entire trip through the lens of his trusty camera. For those who were unable to go and want an inkling of what it was like or for those who did go and want to relive it, here is Martin’s photo essay of 48 hours in Marseille.
Bring on Amsterdam.
