Sporting fight back to defeat Marseille as Emerson sees red, Atalanta held by Slavia Prague
Emerson Palmieri paid the price as Marseille fell to defeat against Sporting CP in the Champions League.
Sporting CP came from behind to defeat 10-man Marseille 2-1 at Estadio Jose Alvalade on Wednesday.
Igor Paixao cut in from the left to bend in a wonderful 18-yard effort after racing onto Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's throughball to put Marseille ahead after 14 minutes but a huge flash point before half-time altered the context of the game.
Emerson Palmieri was originally awarded a penalty after referee Rade Obrenovic felt he was fouled by Maximiliano Araujo but the official changed his mind after a visit to the pitch-side monitor and showed the full-back a second yellow and subsequent red card for simulation.
Geovany Quenda hit the post before Sporting did get their equaliser when substitute Geny Catamo slotted home, the goal awarded after being originally ruled out for offside.
Alisson Santos then secured the turnaround with four minutes remaining with a deflected effort off Benjamin Pavard after a mazy run, moving Sporting to 12th and leaving Marseille 18th in the league phase.
Over in Bergamo, Atalanta were held to a goalless draw at home to Slavia Prague.
Nikola Krstovic missed a couple of good opportunities for the hosts in the opening period and was also denied a penalty after believing he was pulled to ground by Christos Zafeiris, with referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea checking the pitch-side monitor.
Vasil Kusej and Michal Sadilek had the visitors' best chances after the break, while Gianluca Scamacca diverted one over the top that he really ought to have scored for Atalanta, who are 17th in the standings. Slavia are 28th.
Data Debrief: Emerson sees red as Marseille fall
Sporting's victory marked the fourth time in their Champions League history that they have won after conceding the first goal, doing so also in December 1997 versus Lierse, November 2014 against Schalke, and November 2024 when facing Manchester City.
It was a disappointing evening for Emerson, whose red card in first-half stoppage time was Marseille's second-earliest red card in Champions League history after Dimitri Payet against Borussia Dortmund in December 2013 (33rd minute).
Atalanta have now failed to score in two of their opening three games in the Champions League this season, the only team to have done so in the competition.
Slavia, meanwhile, have failed to win in their last nine Champions League games, their longest winless streak in the competition since at least 2004-2005.
