Ligue 1: four in a row for OM, which pushes Clermont

OM four to four. Beaten in the Europa League this week, the Marseillais have a fourth victory in a row in the league this Sunday, at the Vélodrome, during the 16th day of Ligue 1. And this at the expense of Clermont (2-1), bottom red. Michael Murillo and Amine Harit put OM into orbit, before the goal of hope for the Auvergnats, signed Jim Allevinah. Thanks to this good series, the Olympians climb to sixth place in the standings, just four points from the third step of the podium held by Monaco.

After a quarter of an hour of running-in, the Olympians, under the leadership of an inspired Iliman Ndiaye, stifled the Clermontois in their camp. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got the first two chances without hitting the target (18th, 23rd), before turning into a passer – his 5th offering in the league – for Michael Murillo, who scored from close range for the second time this season after Lyon ( 26th, 1-0). The hardest part was done for Gennaro Gattuso's men, calm in the build-up and mobile in attack. Leonardo Balerdi missed the 2-0 with a header (40th) but not Amine Harit, on the lookout for a shot repelled from Ndiaye (2-0, 41st), Phocaean the most unfortunate at the finish after a post found. The red lantern from Clermont-Ferrand found itself without a solution and overwhelmed by events, Aubameyang even missing the KO goal just before the break (44th).

Hermetic at home since August, the Marseille defense waited until the 52nd minute to concede a shot, off target by Cham. The visitors finally put their noses to the window and were quickly rewarded, Allevinah deceiving Lopez with a cross header from a corner following a more dangerous strike from the same Cham (58th, 2-1). As in Lorient (4-2) last Sunday, which did not please Gattuso, OM stopped playing in the second half. The only Ounahi, coming off the bench, called on Diaw one last time (82nd). The Olympians, having become muddled, will have had the simple merit of not causing fear at the Vélodrome, Lopez being very little worried. Clermont failed to offer itself a 2-2 opportunity and leaves fanny before receiving Rennes on Wednesday to close the year 2023. Marseille, which will travel to Montpellier at the same time, provides the essentials and continues its rise in the rankings failing to play a full match from start to finish.