Marseille (AFP)

Thank you "Pipa"! The first Olympian hat-trick from Dario Benedetto allowed Marseille to win at Nîmes (3-2) and prevented doubt from settling down on Friday at the start of the 27th day of Ligue 1.

The little chill of defeat at the Vélodrome against Nantes (3-1) is digested, OM resumed its march forward and its distances with its pursuers: 11 points on Rennes (3rd), who plays in Toulouse on Saturday, and 12 in Lille (4th), expected in Nantes.

With this sixth victory in their last eight trips, the Marseillais leave the "Crocodiles" in their position as barrages.

The Nîmes had made a good comeback thanks to four wins in a row, but they have just lost twice, in Rennes (2-1), and Friday evening, where they however opened the scoring by Zinédine Ferhat (5).

The Nîmes did not believe it until the last seconds, after the reduction of the score of Lucas Deaux of the head, an action on which Steve Mandanda claimed a fault of the scorer, and collected a warning (90 + 2).

But Marseille was a tone above and controlled the game overall. A bit messy anyway, with some errors in the circulation of the ball, but above, like the composure of Dario Benedetto (10, 36, 69), for his 9, 10 and 11th goals in all competitions this season.

- Benedetto's lob -

The most notable idea was to see Morgan Sanson in position of N. 10 in a 4-2-3-1 system, variation of the usual 4-3-3 of André Villas-Boas.

Valentin Rongier and Boubacar Kamara provided a two-headed recovery environment, leaving the ex-Montpellier to use his physical "box" and technique to animate the game.

By the time all this took place, Nîmes had run five minutes in the lead.

Was the Marseille defense struggling against Nantes? She lost on the first Nîmes opportunity. Ferhat served in the area Nolan Roux, whose immediate strike was diverted by Steve Mandanda, but to the number 10 guards, who had followed.

Dario Benedetto was nowhere to be found against Nantes? He appeared at the far post to take over a diving center from Bouna Sarr, shifted by Morgan Sanson.

The Argentinian also executed a delicious little lob on Paul Bernardoni to give the advantage to OM. "Pipa" arrived alone, launched by Dimitri Payet, who had taken advantage of a ball conquered by the head by Boubacar Kamara.

- Benedetto marks outside -

Finally he benefited from a back against Duje Caleta-Car offering him the ball from the hat.

Pipa Benedetto had already scored twice in Monaco (4-3). Definitely he scores mostly outside, the Velodrome has seen only two of his eleven goals, against Saint-Etienne (1-0) and Nîmes (3-1), already.

Otherwise, we have seen all the ingredients of an OM match this season: a brilliant stop by Mandanda, on a cover of Loïck Landre (62) and the classic missed opportunity of Valentin Rongier, otherwise very good, open his counter. This time it was the firm hand of Bernardoni who intervened (67).

Mandanda was scared off by a vicious shot from Ferhat which he deflected on his post and then licked the goal line, but the referees signaled an offside position (82).

The Nîmes grinta allowed the Crocos to snatch a reduction in the score which is especially worth for the courage it gives them for their next trip to Metz, a competitor for maintenance.

OM, it will receive Amiens, to resume for good its march forward, and take revenge after the defeat of the outward journey (3-1). Benedetto had scored a superb goal, perhaps this time he will offer one at the velodrome?

© 2020 AFP