(Ligue 1 2023/2024): Highlights FC LORIENT - MARSEILLE

Marseille travelled to Lorient for the final game of the weekend, fresh off the back of a memorable Olympico triumph in midweek. Gennaro Gattuso recorded his finest result in the Marseille dugout as his Olympia beat Lyon 3-0 to continue their recovery and move closer to the European places. Lorient meanwhile have been going in the opposite direction, witnessing five in the relegation play-off spot coming into matchday 15. Things weren't about to get any better on a miserable Breton evening. Marseille needed only three minutes to build on their recent momentum as Chancel Mbemba made his way up from the back and slotted under Yvonne Mbogo. Congolese defender continues his surprising knack of scoring in France, and his seventh goal since joining OM at the start of last season, his previous seven took him eight seasons. He then turned creator as Marseille hit the back of the net for a second time six minutes later. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang brilliantly guiding, and Mbemba's enticing delivery passed Mbogo for 2-0. The former Arsenal and Barcelona man clearly re-found his mojo, nearly adding number three in incredible acrobatic style, a scorpionesque attempt which was tipped over by the keeper. A third would come though, perhaps in slightly less spectacular style, but they all count and there was nothing Mbogo could do as Leonardo Balleri headed home Jonathan Claus' corner shortly after the half-hour mark. On loan striker Romain Favre gave L'Oreal brief hope of an unlikely comeback by firing past Pau Lopez a second time of asking. First shot blocked, nobody in the way of the second, but Aubameyang was in no mood for that as he restored Marseille's three-goal lead within a minute. Jordan Veretout with a pinpoint pass and the Galvanese with the strength and composure to make it 4-1. That's now seven goal involvements in his last three Ligue 1 Uber Eats games and ten in his last four in all competitions. So five goals in an enthralling first half, a tough 45 minutes awaiting Les Merleux and their fans. Defiant and their players made a go of it and indeed they reduced the deficit again just seven minutes after the restart. Benjamin Mendy firing home on the rebound after Lopez could only redirect Bamba-Dieng's shot into the path of the former French international. Mendy scores his first goal in the French top flight since 2015-16 when he played for Marseille. Down but not yet out. Lorient should have reduced the deficit to only one four minutes later, but somehow the visitors survived. Dieng's effort cleared off the line and then Montessor Talbi only able to turn away in frustration as his head up on the rebound was brilliantly saved by Lopez. After that, things finally did settle down a little until the 80th minute when Klos was shown a straight red card. Dangerous challenge on Darlene Young-Hwa. As we head into the festive season, Klos certainly not getting himself on Sunter's nice list with that. But Lorient couldn't take advantage of their numerical advantage in the final ten minutes. Marseille held on for a third straight league victory and a fourth in all competitions, moves them up to sixth. After a win for Lorient, Lorient suddenly find themselves two points from the bottom.