Marseille (AFP)

Olympique de Marseille will spend Christmas comfortably installed in second place in Ligue 1: its victory over Nîmes (3-1) gives it five lengths ahead of Rennes (3rd), Saturday after the 19th day.

Not a suitcase, but at least a "Croco" (Nîmes) bag for Christmas. This seventh victory in eight matches confirms the ambitions of the Champions League, the real good resolution of OM for 2020, under the eyes of the owner Frank McCourt, the first match at the Velodrome of the American this season.

This success makes forget the slight misstep of Metz (1-1), which prevented his club from finishing the year on a full box.

A home goal from Sofiane Alakouch (47), another opportunist from Dario Benedetto, after a block, then a number from Dimitri Payet (82) allowed OM to defeat the "Crocodiles".

Nîmes remains penultimate with this fourth defeat in a row in L1, with 14 goals conceded and only one scored, that of captain Anthony Briançon at the very end of the match to save the honor (90 + 2).

There was never really a photo between the two teams, even if there was a lot of video from the picky referee, François Letexier.

- OM dominated -

OM dominated the whole match. Defender Alvaro Gonzalez even passed close to his first Marseille goal, a corner kick deflected by Paul Bernardoni (12).

The Nîmes goalkeeper succeeded in other rescues, on a smashed head by Dario Benedetto (23) or a superb volley of 25m by Valentin Rongier (37).

The end of the first period was a little hot, the Nîmes asked for a penalty, but the VAR confirmed, after a long break, the first decision of M. Letexier: Sofiane Alakouch came impaled on Duje Caleta-Car ( 43).

Alakouch remained at the heart of the news just after the recovery by diverting for the purpose a center of Benedetto.

The goal of K.-O. was refused to the Marseillais after a new consultation of the VAR. Benedetto, who brushes against Payet's shot, was deemed offside (57).

Too bad for the swan dance-shaped celebration of Payet, not approved, suddenly.

- Benedetto scores in front of his audience -

It is also a shame that Nemanja Radonjic, finally established after four goals in five games out of the bench, overused a block, preferring a difficult dive ball rather than a pass to Benedetto who arrived (58).

But the Argentinian had his revenge, emerging to resume a shot from Sanson diverted by Bernardoni after a counterattack.

"Pipa" finally scored in front of his audience, for the first time since Saint-Etienne (1-0 on September 1). The other five of his seven goals were away. Benedetto is decidedly the anti-Balotelli - who almost only scored at the Vélodrome - to the end.

On this goal, Mr. Letexier again scared the stadium by ensuring with the VAR that the ball had not gone out in touch at the start of Payet's race ...

The third goal deserved only slowdowns, to taste the swaying dribbles of Payet - served by Radonjic - in the Gard defense before adjusting Bernardoni.

The captain, in the absence of Steve Mandanda, finally not recovered from his ankle injury, celebrated his goal by wearing a red and white cap.

André Villas-Boas also played Santa Claus by offering a standing ovation to the three best players of the first half of the season: Benedetto, replaced by Bouna Sarr (78), Rongier (Maxime Lopez, 80) and Payet (Marley Aké, 82) .

N.10 even came out with a huge acclaim. Christmas will be sweet at OM.

© 2019 AFP