PLAYER RATINGS | MARSEILLE 1-0 AUXERRE: Amine Gouiri strike the difference as Marseille win three on the bounce in Ligue 1 | OneFootball

In a tense atmosphere at the Vélodrome, Marseille managed to see off Auxerre to seal their third straight win in Ligue 1 following the appointment of Habib Beye and moving three points ahead of Lyon in the race for direct Champions League qualification with a podium finish.THE MATCH“45 minutes of silence for a season of humiliation,” read the banner from Marseille’s Virage Sud as players began to warm-up. A meeting with supporters was refused by the club’s ultras, who had staged a silent protest to air their discontent over elimination in the Coupe de France last week against Toulouse. As always, the bitterness lingered longer than it arguably should have. As Les Phocéens kicked off, a muted Vélodrome welcomed an OM side searching for their third straight win in Ligue 1.

The first clear-cut chance came the way of the hosts when a well-worked one-two between Pabard and Greenwood saw the Englishman cross low into the box and AJA defender Clément Akpa intervened to stop Aubameyang from finishing in the six-yard box. The opening stages were cagey, reflective of the limpid atmosphere inside the Vélodrome. Kévin Danois was busy on the ball for the away side who carved out some limited half-chances – yet neither side tested either goalkeeper by the half-hour mark. Akpa’s cross would be flapped at by Rulli yet Pavard was able to scramble the ball away before Sekou Mara could pounce at the back post. The whistle for the first half would come to a cacophony of whistles and jeers from the home side.Yet the noise would quickly come back during the second half, and Mason Greenwood instantly had a strike at goal which was saved by Léon. Pavard would stab his effort goalwards from the following corner as OM started the second half with an extra air of confidence. But Auxerre would have their own response with Danois firing from range. With energy petering out, Beye would make the first changes with Emerson Palmieri and Amine Gouiri entering the pitch. Greenwood’s freekick from just outside the box would be deflected over the crossbar, as Auxerre remained resolute defensively. Then Marseille would make the all-important breakthrough when Amine Gouiri was on hand to volley home a deflected cross which looped up fortunately for the Algerian forward (78′).  

The nerves would kick in as Marseille once again nervously tried to retain their lead. Auxerre thought they had grabbed a dramatic equaliser only five minutes later when Bryan Okoh arrived at the back post with a finish after some messy defending from the hosts – yet the ball was handled with his hand when the Ivorian slid on the way to poking home. The board would go up for three minutes additional time, as Marseille nervously approached the finish line. There were nerves, clearly, as Auxerre set up for the long throw. But Les Phocéens would see out the game for a rare run of two straight clean sheets, and a third victory on the bounce in the league. Perhaps all is not lost for OM despite a season of plenty ups and downs, with the podium spot still in their hands after the opening match of Matchday 26.

OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE PLAYER RATINGS 

Geronimo Rulli – 5

Timothy Weah – 5Benjamin Pavard – 5

CJ Egan-Riley – 4Facundo Medina – 4

Geoffrey Kondogbia – 4

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 4

Quinten Timber – 6

The Dutchman was Marseille’s best performer in what was far from an impressive performance from the hosts. He was combative, attempting to link up with the front three, with varying levels of success. 

Mason Greenwood – 5

A typical performance from the Englishman, with most of the creative work in the attacking half of OM on his shoulders. He feinted and dribbled with some interesting moments in the first half, but they came too few and far between. 

Igor Paixao – 5

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 2

The Gabon international featured in one of his most ineffectual matches in a Marseille shirt. He was, to be fair, served very little by his teammates in the attacking positions but he didn’t help himself by seeing very little involvement. 

AUXERRE PLAYER RATINGS 

Donavon Léon – 5

Bryan Okoh – 5

Clément Akpa – 5

Sinaly Diomandé – 4

Fredrik Oppegård – 5

Kevin Danois – 6

The Frenchman was possibly the brightest spark on the pitch in the first period, menacing on the ball and was Auxerre’s clear outlet. He played between the lines, linked up well with Namaso, Mara, and Casimir and was the clear dangerman for Les Diplomates. 

Elisha Owusu – 5

Lamine Sy – 5

Josué Casimir – 5

Danny Namaso – 5

Sékou Mara – 5

GFFN | George Boxall – reporting from Stade Vélodrome, Marseille