Marseille (AFP)

This time the Olympique de Marseille really started their season by signing a second consecutive victory, against Saint-Étienne (1-0), with a new goal from Dario Benedetto, Sunday for the fourth day of Ligue 1.

While respecting the tradition against the Greens, who have not won at the Vélodrome for 40 years, OM returns to 8th place, but at the height of Lyon (5th), which has 7 points like him but a better difference of goal (+8 against 0).

This success improves the victory in Nice (2-1) Wednesday and installs for good Benedetto in the role of the center forward. The Argentinian had opened his counter on the Côte d'Azur, this time he scored in front of his new audience.

These three points are good, for the 120 years of the club, honored by a special jersey, with the blue cross of Marseille on the white tunic, but it will be necessary to wait again to rent the OM version André Villas-Boas.

The Portuguese technician had renewed the eleven of Nice, and this time Luiz Gustavo was not even on the bench, since he will join Fenerbahçe, an agreement having been found around 7 million euros.

But the collective game was rough and the game is mostly saved by the magnificent goal of the Olympians, superb in its design.

- Superb purpose -

Every gesture was right. Bouna Sarr and Benedetto are at the start, with a heel of the Argentinian, a race of the winger, a relay well balanced by Morgan Sanson for the precise recovery of the new N.9 Olympian.

This perfectly coordinated maneuver bears the signature of André Villas-Boas, but especially of the beautiful agreement between Benedetto and Sarr, who had already reported the first goal in Nice.

The striker come from Boca Juniors had beautiful balls of doubled, a heavy shot in the small net (55) then a heel - still - saved by Mathieu Debuchy (58).

The Greens had the ball, but have rarely been dangerous, as on two strikes countered blow (45 + 1) or a shot Yann Mvila countered (56).

Steve Mandanda had to intervene on strikes Zaydou Youssouf (78) or Denis Bouanga (81).

The St Etienne have put more pressure for Jordan Amavi to scoop a red, for a poorly controlled tackle on Sergi Palencia (66).

Benoit Millot had sent a yellow left side Marseille, but went to check the video to ensure that it should not be excluded. He maintained his decision, and Palencia then fell to the ground, removing shoes and socks to show his bloated ankle, angering the players and the public Marseille, before being replaced.

- Thauvin is back -

The fans warmed up the Vélodrome. The Commando Ultra (CU84), the oldest supporter group in France, was celebrating its 35th anniversary in the South Turn, and Marseille Trop Puissant (MTP) was celebrating its 25th anniversary, in the bend across the North .

The "tifos", these shows of sheets of paper and flags, have dressed the enclosure throughout the match, the Ultras forming the number 35 with their T-shirts. Then in the 85th minute, with 84 on the clock, their year of foundation, the CU84 broke a wall of smoke that would be worth a fine to the club, or even a suspension of tribune.

The homophobic songs did not stop the match, some "queers" were intoned by the stadium, like the famous ones: "the League is encuming you".

A banner of the South Winners has also criticized the League (LFP) to use "homophobia to sodomize our freedoms."

The spirits may calm down during the international truce, which will see OM resume in Monaco on September 14, with its 7-point nest egg.

But the best news for OM may lie in the return to competition Florian Thauvin, entered for the last ten minutes in place of Benedetto, and who has created an opportunity (90 + 5).

Both were acclaimed at the time of the change by a Vélodrome impatient to see them evolve together ...

© 2019 AFP