In the Ligue 1 encounter between Toulouse and Olympique de Marseille on 31 August 2024, Marseille emerged victorious with a decisive 3-1 win. The match statistics reveal a game where both teams demonstrated moments of intensity and strategy, but Marseille’s early aggression in the first half set the tone for their triumph.

Marseille's early goals were pivotal. They scored twice within the first 18 minutes, establishing a psychological advantage that Toulouse struggled to overcome. The rapid succession of goals, scored at 00:15:58 and 00:17:18, highlighted an efficient and sharp attacking front. This was compounded in the second half with another goal at 00:52:14, ensuring Toulouse's attempts at a comeback were significantly mitigated.

Toulouse's performance was marred by disciplinary issues. A total of four yellow cards were issued to their players, alongside a red card, which undeniably affected their cohesion and fluidity on the field. The red card, although not specified in the given data, suggests that Toulouse was playing under numerical disadvantage post-incident, making it arduous for them to mount a successful counter-offensive.

The corner kick count also provides insights into attacking pressure and set-piece utilization. Marseille earned three corners compared to Toulouse’s two, indicating slightly better dominance in penetrative play. However, it's noteworthy that despite Marseille’s marginal advantage in corners, their goals came from open play rather than set pieces, underscoring their effective forward play and situational adaptability.

While Marseille committed 12 fouls against Toulouse’s 10, the away team managed to avoid the excessive indiscipline that plagued Toulouse. This relative composure in controlling aggressive gameplay while still maintaining pressure was indicative of Marseille’s tactical discipline and awareness.

Substitutions, while not detailed, likely played a role in both teams' strategies, especially for Toulouse, who needed fresh legs to counter Marseille's lead. However, the fundamental differences in this match boiled down to Marseille’s sharp and early offensive execution, coupled with Toulouse's inability to maintain disciplinary standards, which collectively shaped the 3-1 outcome.

In conclusion, Marseille's strategic edge and efficient goal-scoring early in the match, combined with Toulouse's disciplinary setbacks, were the most significant factors influencing the final result. This match offers robust learning points, particularly in the importance of maintaining composure and the impact of early game aggression in dictating match tempo.

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