Igor Paixao lifts Marseille with goals and assists after injury-hit start | OneFootball

Igor Paixao’s buoyant form has made him a rare bright spot for Marseille in a bruising week. The Brazilian has been decisive across three straight matches under Habib Beye.

According to L'Équipe, he did not start at Lyon on 1 March, then came on at half-time to drive a 3-2 turnaround, scoring the equaliser and being involved in all three goals. On Wednesday he scored again, saying he had aimed to cross, then asked to come off before the shootout as OM went out to Toulouse after a 2-2 draw and penalties.

At the Stadium on Saturday he supplied Mason Greenwood for the only goal in a 1-0 league win over Toulouse. He worked back repeatedly, and one recovery unsettled Yann Gboho before the midfielder hit the bar on 53 minutes. He lasted to the end and missed a big chance at 90+5, then stayed down at full-time.

Across this surge he has two goals and two assists, meaning involvement in four of the six Marseille goals under Beye. Once used as a wing-back, he is now stationed higher and closer to goal.

On Friday he said he likes to keep smiling whatever the circumstances and that he is finally beyond a thigh problem that blighted his start, adding he feels fit and that you never give up. Active against racism, he danced on Wednesday to honour Vinicius, and dreams of joining him at the World Cup in June. That aim will require sharper finishing, while Marseille’s chase for the Ligue 1 podium looks less daunting with his running and audacity.

Source: L'Équipe