Andre-Pierre Gignac grabbed a brace as Olympique de Marseille moved joint top of Ligue 1 with a confident 3-0 win against Rennes at the Stade Velodrome. Romain Alessandrini’s first ever goal for the hosts, deep into injury time, ensured a first win in four for OM against their Brittany-based rivals.
Despite controlling the early stages, Marseille almost fell behind with less than 10 minutes played when Paul-Georges Ntep broke through on goal, only to be denied by the legs of Steve Mandanda.
The hosts continued to dominate but Rennes’ counter-attacking football was proving effective as Ntep went close once again, cutting inside before dragging his effort wide of the post.
Marseille coach Marcelo Bielsa’s half-time talk almost did its job as the hosts went close to taking the lead after Benoit Costil spilled Andre Ayew’s cross, but Gignac’s shot on the follow up cannoned against Mozambique defender Mexer.
However, that proved to be just a taster of what was to come and OM made the breakthrough with five minutes played in the second half.
Brice Dja Djedje was the provider and his cross from the right was met by Costil, but the Rennes stopper could only push the ball into France international Gignac’s path to slot home.
The visitors looked to hit back straight away and only a magnificent Mandanda stop prevented Abdoulaye Doucoure from levelling, before Dimitri Payet beat a couple of defenders at the other end only to see his shot beaten away by Costil.
The game was all but wrapped up with 63 minutes on the clock, though, when Gignac grabbed his sixth goal of the season with a smart 18-yard finish through a body of players. The Ligue 1 top scorer turned defender soon after, clearing off the line from Toivonen’s flick-on, before Alessandrini netted deep into injury-time to round off a successful afternoon for OM.
Meanwhile, Nantes kept in touch with the early leaders in Ligue 1 courtesy of a 2-1 win over Nice.
The home side took the lead through Jordan Amavi’s own-goal and took a two-goal lead into the interval thanks to Etey Shechter’s strike. Amavi redeemed himself by pulling a goal back with 20 minutes to play, but Nantes held on for their third win of the season.
Also, Benjamin Moukandjo scored the game’s only goal as Reims ran out 1-0 winners at Lorient. Moukandjo volleyed home the decisive goal in the 72nd minute at Stade Yves Allianmat-Le Moustoir, to lift Reims level on seven points with their hosts.
