Five out of five for Jean-Louis Gasset. OM have not lost since the arrival of the 70-year-old coach on their bench, following up this Sunday against Nantes (2-0), during the 25th day of Ligue 1, a fifth consecutive victory in all competitions confused.
Less flamboyant than during the recital against Villarreal (4-0) on Thursday, in the round of 16 first leg of the Europa League, the Marseillais provided the essentials by securing their third victory in a row in the league. They remain undefeated this season at home. No other team can boast such a performance in Ligue 1.
If the first opportunity was to the credit of Nantes, it was the Phocaeans who had possession at the start of the match. They opened the scoring thanks to the inevitable Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (1-0, 17th). Taking advantage of the embarrassment between Alban Lafont and Eray Cömert, the Gabonese scored his tenth goal of the season in Ligue 1, his seventh in the last five matches in all competitions.
Nantes residents not rewarded
Moses Simon’s teammates pushed to equalize and had a good chance before half-time, Moussa Sissoko’s right shot forcing Pau Lopez to make his first save (44th). Returning from the locker room, Nantes were very close to equalizing but the ball hit Chancel Mbemba’s arm in the Marseille area (50th). The Canaries demanded a penalty, in vain.
In the process, Jordan Veretout could have made the Stade Vélodrome roar but his low shot was repelled by the Nantes goalkeeper (54th). Dominated in the second half, the Marseillais seemed closer to conceding the equalizer than making the break until Aubameyang, again, scored, in two stages after a first save from Lafont, a new goal (2 -0.79th).
OM, who remained on average four goals scored per match since the arrival of Gasset, provided the main support. It comes within a small point of sixth place, synonymous with the European ticket, occupied by Nice. The technician is the first coach in sixty-two years to win his first five matches on the Marseille bench.
After the rout at home against Metz (0-2) last Sunday, FC Nantes showed good things but found the place of play-off, tied on points with Lorient (15th). After a dark series of six consecutive defeats at La Beaujoire, Jocelyn Gourvennec’s men will have to pull themselves together against Strasbourg, a direct competitor for maintenance, next Saturday at home.
