Wilfried Ndollo faced a night to forget as Montpellier suffered a punishing 5-1 defeat at the hands of Olympique de Marseille in Ligue 1 on Saturday, with the young Cameroonian right-back enduring a difficult full debut in the top flight.
With regular starter Enzo Tchato sidelined since March 2 due to a quadriceps injury sustained during training, Montpellier turned to their reserve squad to fill the gap at right-back.
That responsibility fell on 20-year-old Ndollo, who had made his senior debut last month and was handed his first start against a resurgent Marseille side at the Stade Vélodrome.
Ndollo’s evening began with a bright moment when he earned a penalty for Montpellier in the seventh minute after a forceful run into the box.
Mason Greenwood converted from the spot, briefly giving the visitors hope of a competitive showing. But that optimism would be short-lived as Marseille responded with attacking intensity and precision.
As the match wore on, Ndollo found himself increasingly under pressure from Marseille’s fluid attacking movements.
His most unfortunate moment came on the hour mark when he unintentionally redirected a shot from Amine Gouiri into his own net, compounding an already challenging evening for both player and team.
Montpellier’s defence struggled throughout the game to contain Marseille’s rhythm, and Ndollo’s inexperience at the top level was exposed by the hosts’ relentless approach.
Despite his early contribution, the remainder of his performance was marked by moments of hesitation and miscommunication, which Marseille exploited with clinical efficiency.
Enzo Tchato’s prolonged absence has forced Montpellier to rely on their youth depth, and while Ndollo showed glimpses of potential, the fixture proved a steep learning curve.
Montpellier’s coaching staff will likely view the match as part of the necessary growing pains for a young player stepping into Ligue 1 under difficult circumstances.
Ndollo had previously made a substitute appearance against Lille on March 8 and was recalled to the matchday squad on April 6, but Saturday’s encounter marked his first experience from the opening whistle.
The step up proved considerable, with Marseille capitalising on their opponent’s vulnerabilities, particularly down the flanks.
For Ndollo, the evening served as a harsh but potentially valuable lesson in the demands of elite football.
The young Cameroonian defender, while clearly talented, now faces the challenge of bouncing back mentally and technically from a tough introduction to starting duty in France’s top division.
Despite the defeat, Montpellier remain hopeful that Tchato’s return to fitness, expected by the end of April, will bring stability back to the defence.
Until then, the club may continue to rely on its emerging talents like Ndollo, who will no doubt be looking to prove that Saturday’s experience was just a bump on the road toward a promising professional career.
In a season where Montpellier has faced its share of inconsistency, the emergence of young players from the reserve side offers long-term potential.
For Ndollo, the task now will be to absorb the lessons from Marseille’s dominance and work towards more assured performances when the next opportunity arises.
