(Ligue 1 2023/2024): Highlights MARSEILLE - LYONNAIS

It wasn't your usual Olimpico as Marseille and Lyon met at the Orange Velodrome. This postponed fixture saw the sides a long way from their usual positions near the sharp end of the table at home ninth, coming into the match at a well rock bottom. On home soil and having put together two important victories in the space of four days, a dramatic 4-3 win over Ajax in the Europa League followed up by a 2-0 league win against Rennes, Marseille were surely eyeing a victory as they looked to move back into the European spots. Lyon, meanwhile, perhaps take anything at this point. Three points adrift of 17th place Clermont, already on their third manager of the season. Their win over Lyon 8 didn't spark a turnaround, followed by two defeats, getting the manager Pierre Sage losing to Lens last time out in his first game, and it wasn't wise defending from Sage's men as the hosts took the lead in the 21st minute. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, unselfish, putting the ball across for Vitinha, who was left with the simple task of passing the ball into the back of an empty net. Vitinha nearly doubled his tally within a few seconds of the game getting back underway as well. A darling effort from just outside the area whistled past at the far post. It wouldn't take much longer for the second to arrive, and four minutes later, Michael Amir Murillo would grab his first goal for Marseille since joining in the summer, and in doing so become just the second Panamanian player to score in the French shot flight. Aubameyang again with the assist, the former Arsenal captain with a 93rd-minute penalty to complete this hat-trick and secure the win against Ajax, a creator on this occasion. Julen Veretout, having gone close early on, tried his luck again and produced a good save from Anthony Lopez, a keeper furious at his defence, understandably so after a tough start to the game. Just as finally conjured up an attack of their own, Henrique trying his luck from inside the area, not threatening the other Lopez between the Marseille sticks, Paul Lopez. Marseille have won their last two Ligue 1 Uber Eats games against Lyon, as many as in their previous 23 meetings, but have never won three consecutive encounters against OL in the top flight, making a pretty safe bet to do so here. However, this time it would be Marseille napping after the restart, then 45 seconds of the second half getting underway, Ernest Nwama nearly halved the deficit, wriggling through, his shot smothered by Lopez. Instead, the third would go with the run of play, as Aubameyang decided he did fancy getting in on the goals, Bettina returning the favour to his strike partner, and Aubameyang making it 3-0. A goal in a third consecutive game for the forward, seven goal involvements in those three games, a difficult start to life in south-east France for the Gabonese, but into his stride now, perfectly on to slot that one home. Clear what it meant to Gennaro Gattuso, contrasting emotions between the two coaches. Sarge set to become the second successive Lyon manager to lose their first two top flight games, something that hadn't happened since 1976 before Grosso could have got worse. Still, for the OL coach, only the woodwork is standing between Bilal Nadir and a fourth. Nonetheless, the job was done for OM, who move to within three points of the top five. Lyon, meanwhile, remain stuck on seven points, and the last 14 teams with seven points or fewer after 14 games have avoided relegation at the end of the campaign. The last time a team did so, 1948.