Les Olympiens started the game by producing scintillating passages of play that Nantes’ defence was struggling to deal with. The hosts had to remain patient, though, as Jonathan Clauss was denied by Alban Lafont before Gerson’s header grazed the roof of the net on its way over. As HT approached, Matteo Guendouzi hit the side netting after being played through by Alexis Sánchez, overhit his through ball to the Chilean moments later, then failed to find Gerson after Nuno Tavares squandered an opportunity.
The hosts had asserted themselves in the early stages of the second period, but should have found themselves behind when Fábio raced up the pitch to create an opportunity that Moses Simon squandered. While Igor Tudor’s side survived that scare, there was a blow as Gerson went off injured when play stopped. With Nantes looking confident, Simon had an even better opportunity on the hour mark when Marseille’s defence was split wide open and Ludovic Blas selflessly teed him up. However, the Nigerian failed to add to his goal against Lille as Pau López was equal to his attempt.
Dimitri Payet was brought off the bench and Nantes were unable to deal with his corner, with Clauss’ effort deflected into the path of Chancel Mbemba who clinically finished for his first Marseille goal. The joy inside the Orange Vélodrome disappeared just seven minutes later, though. Samuel Gigot held Mostafa Mohamed in the box, receiving a second yellow and conceding a penalty that Blas emphatically smashed home.
Just four minutes after that, Nicolas Pallois attempted to cut out Luis Suárez’s header across goal but merely diverted the ball into his own net. Even with the tempo remaining high, Marseille did enough to earn all three points and maintain hopes of matching their six-game unbeaten run at the start of last season. Meanwhile, Nantes still have just one away league win to their name in 2022.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Chancel Mbemba (Olympique de Marseille)