Auxerre make OM auxiliary in the Ligue 1 title race

Auxerre snapped a nine-match winless streak against Marseille with an impressive first-half surge, securing a 3-1 victory at the Stade Vélodrome after racing to a 3-0 halftime lead.

On paper, Marseille seemed the clear favorites in the South of France, but football rarely follows the script. Auxerre seized an early opportunity when a defensive error by Marseille — Lilian Brassier’s mis-hit clearance — allowed Lassine Sinayoko to pounce and score his second goal of the season. Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi was visibly frustrated as his team failed to muster an immediate response.

Things went from bad to worse for Marseille before the break. Sinayoko again caused problems by breaking free down the flank, but instead of going for goal, he selflessly passed to Gaëtan Perrin, who rounded Gerónimo Rulli to score into an open net. Just before halftime, Auxerre stunned the home crowd with a third goal, as Perrin set up Hamed Traoré with a perfect through ball, which Traoré dispatched with a shot through Rulli’s legs.

Marseille found a glimmer of hope just after the hour mark when Mason Greenwood’s shot was blocked by Clément Akpa’s arm, resulting in a penalty. Greenwood stepped up to take it and buried his shot in the bottom left corner, giving the hosts a much-needed lifeline. The momentum shifted briefly, and Auxerre’s goalkeeper Donovan Léon pulled off a crucial save to deny Elye Wahi after a neat pass from Adrien Rabiot sent the striker through on goal.

Marseille substitute Ismaël Koné nearly cut the deficit to one with a close-range effort that narrowly missed the post, but that would be the final real chance for the hosts. The loss highlighted Marseille’s struggles at home this season, while Auxerre’s fairytale start to life in Ligue 1 continued, propelling them into European contention as they await the weekend’s remaining matches.

LIGUE 1 - MATCHDAY 11

Friday

Olympique Marseille - Auxerre 1-3 (0-3)

/Greenwood 64 pen - Sinayoko 10, Perrin 43, Traore 45/

Saturday

19:00: (3.60) Strasbourg (3.60) Monaco (2.10)

21:00: (1.60) Lens (3.70) Nantes (6.25)

23:00: (10.5) Angers (6.75) PSG (1.28)

Sunday

17:00: (2.55) Nice (3.20) Lille (2.85)

19:00: (3.25) Le Havre (3.40) Reims (2.35)

19:00: (3.25) Montpellier (3.45) Brest (2.20)

19:00: (2.20) Rennes (3.60) Toulouse (3.40)

22:45: (1.37) Olympique Lyon (5.80) Saint-Etienne (8.00)

***odds are subject to change***