Angers (AFP)

Guided by Dimitri Payet, smuggler and scorer, the Olympique de Marseille, applied and realistic, picked Tuesday a fifth win in a row (2-0) in Ligue 1 to consolidate its second place.

In addition to pushing Angers 7 points, OM is two lengths behind the leader, the PSG, deprived of match this weekend and who receives Nantes Wednesday.

This match, between the dauphin of the Parisians and the ex-third in Ligue 1, which was on the heels of the Marseille standings, promised a lot. The Angevins first took possession of the ball (70% possession in the first period) but missed two pretty opportunities in the first quarter of an hour.

Alioui, all alone in the area, did not know what to do with the ball, then shot well next (7th). And especially a perfect center of Manceau on the head of Capelle, at the point of penalty, forced Mandanda out a superb cuff (15th) worthy of the goalkeeper of the Blues he is back this fall.

It was the first decisive moment, because on the next action, a free kick shot by Payet, following a stroller Thomas Benedetto, allowed him to find Sanson who cheated Butelle an unstoppable cross shot (17th).

Angers took the ball back, but was rarely dangerous ahead, while Rongier (27th), well launched by Sanson, then Benedetto (35th), served by Amavi, sent two slight chills in the back of the 12,500 SCO supporters .

The second cold shower of the evening, in freezing weather, came again from Thomas. The Angevin defender has very lightly touched a leg of Sakai (39th) thrown fully into the surface and rolled on the ground with pain, holding his shoulder. The black spot of the evening for "AVB" since the Olympian defender has given way to Maxime Lopez at halftime in stride.

Penalty indisputable according to the referee, without consulting the VAR, and 2-0 for hyper-realistic Marseillais, Payet having not missed, taking Butelle against the foot, this opportunity to break (41). Or his fifth goal in L1 this season, without forcing.

- OM in management mode -

The break did not change the case, the kop Angevin not managing to disturb a captain Mandanda in Zen master mode, as on an exit full of authority (56th) against too shy Scoist.

Benedetto almost killed the game, on an umpteenth against the hour of play, but Santamaria, sentinel indispensable and darling fans of the SCO, came back in extremis to cleanly tackle the Argentine, in the surface of Butelle, and away the danger (61e).

A shot from Alioui, perfectly shot, then passed right next to the left post of Mandanda (66th), the success is not Angevin against a clinical OM, perfectly organized by Andre Villas-Boas. Even Strootman and Amavi were comfortable, that's all.

Quiet and confident, the Phoenicians continued their work of massive destruction of the hopes of the centenary club, Alioui shooting very high (73) while he had time to adjust Mandanda to restart this match that has never changed in the madness, despite the support of the SCO kop.

We can find as excuses a busy infirmary and a day less to recover from the defeat in Nice (3-1), OM having won Friday against Brest (2-1). It explains only part of this result deserved by a much higher OM. And solid dolphin of the PSG, in "the other" championship of France.

© 2019 AFP