Marseille overtakes Strasbourg and takes second place
RC Strasbourg Alsace 0-2 Olympique de Marseille
THE GAME
Marseille welcomed a string of players from Thursday’s 1-0 win over Lokomotiv Moscow in the UEFA Europa League, with Dimitri Payet, Boubakar Kamara and Pau Lopez among those returning to the starting line-up. The visitors came close to taking the lead in the first 10 minutes, but Pape Gueye’s strike narrowly missed the near post by Matz Sels (7th). Strasbourg thought they had taken the lead shortly after when Habib Diallo deflected Ludovic Ajorque’s shot past Lopez, but the flag was raised for offside against the Senegalese striker (13′). Payet tried to get things going at the other end, dethroning Diallo’s international team-mate Bamba Dieng, but the youngster’s crashing strike hit the wrong side of the side netting (27′) and the sides entered the break with the stalemate intact. .
Dieng-dong!
Neither coach made a change at the break, both happy enough with how the first half had gone. This decision seemed to be justified by Julien Stéphan when Diallo once again danced the Olympian defense, but his shot was straight on Lopez (56th). Instead, it was Marseille who took the lead, and how! Luis Henrique sent a cross into the box from the right and Dieng headed in a superb header to convert his fourth – and easily the best – goal of the season, Sels left without a chance (62nd). Ajorque should have equalized at the end of the match after meeting the reduction of Anthony Caci, but he inflated his lines (77 ‘) and Marseille sanctioned the debauchery at the end of the match with Caleta-Car who placed the highest to convert a Payet corner for the 2-0 (82’).
THE PLAYER: Bamba Dieng
Arkadiusz Milik has missed in recent weeks but Jorge Sampaoli has tended to rely on Payet as a false 9 if not for his previously prolific Pole to lead the line. But Dieng had his first start since October here and claimed his inclusion claim with a fine performance in the final third which he completed in style before making way for Cengiz Under.
THE STAT: 13
Marseille are now undefeated in 13 matches and count against Strasbourg in Ligue 1 Conforama. The last time Racing has gotten the better of OM in the league since April 2005, when Mamadou Niang – who later scored 71 goals in 155 games for Marseille – netted the game’s only goal in a 1-0 victory for Strasbourg at the Stade de the Meinau.
Stade Rennais FC 1-2 OGC Nice
Earlier in the day, OGC Nice earned a well-deserved win over second-placed Stade Rennais FC at Roazhon Park. Delort, but Kasper Dolberg stepped in in his absence. The Dane converted a penalty in the first half before launching Youcef Atal for the second after the restart, and although Benjamin Bourigaud pulled one back, the Eagles held to seal the points that elevated them into a provisional third.
FC Metz 4-1 FC Lorient
At the other end of the table, FC Metz gave themselves a lifeline to relegation with an impressive 4-1 win over FC Lorient. Garnets came flying out of the blocks at their Stade Saint-Symphorien, taking a three-goal lead in the opening 20 minutes, Pape Sarr and Farid Boulaya struck in sandwiching an own goal from Moritz Jenz. Jenz made amends in the second half by capitalizing on Marc-Aurèle Caillard’s save, but the damage was done, Ibrahima Niane adding some shine to the scoreline as the hosts edged their visitors on goal difference.
Estac Troyes 1-2 Girondins de Bordeaux
Elsewhere, Girondins de Bordeaux came from behind to win 2-1 at ESTAC Troyes. The hosts took the lead through a diving header from Xavier Chavalerin, but Alberth Elis forced Yoann Salmier’s own goal at the other end seconds after the restart. Hwang Ui-jo then scored his sixth goal of the season and Bordeaux held on to seal their first victory in six.
Angers SCO 0-1 Clermont Foot 63
Clermont were also among the winners of the relegation quagmire, with a Mohamed Bayo penalty proving enough to separate the teams at Stade Raymond Kopa. Promoted Clermont picked up their first victory in seven.