Marseilles (AFP)

Reversing against Lorient (4-1), Marseille returned to victory and the Ligue 1 podium on Sunday, one week before the classic against Paris SG, communicating with the Stade Vélodrome in a touching final tribute to the "Boss" Bernard Tapie, died in early October.

Illuminated by the caviar of Dimitri Payet, decisive double passer, here is OM relaunched thanks to a deflected strike from Boubacar Kamara (27th), a lobed header from Mattéo Guendouzi (56th), also maneuvering on the ultimate goal (90th +2), and a kick from the ghost Arkadiusz Milik (85th).

This is the first defeat in Lorient in two months and the first Olympian victory in a month, at the right time for Marseille in a tough string of matches (seven in 22 days), including a trip to Lazio, Thursday in Rome in the Europa League , then the OM-PSG shock next Sunday.

"We had to win in tribute to Bernard Tapie and that's what we did," savored Marseille defender William Saliba at the microphone of Amazon Prime Video.

"We know that we have a very tough schedule in October so this victory is doing us good."

Here is Jorge Sampaoli's team again on the podium of the L1 (17 pts, one game less), just behind Lens (2nd, 18 pts) and in front of Nice (4th, 16 pts), who both fell this week -end on the 10th day.

- Contrary scenario -

What to give balm to the hearts of the Marseillais, bereaved on October 3 by the death of Bernard Tapie, emblematic ex-president of the club (1986-1994) and boss of the victorious team in 1993 of the first (and only) League of champions in the history of French football.

The Lorientans opened the scoring against OM at the Vélodrome stadium, before the Marseille festival, on October 17, 2021 Nicolas TUCAT AFP

It was a Velodrome decked out with tributes to the "Boss" who carried the eleven Olympian on Sunday, despite a contrary scenario which saw Lorient open the scoring from the penalty spot after a gross ball loss from Kamara in the midfield.

Armand Laurienté was responsible for transforming the sentence (13th), forcing OM to expose themselves more and to suffer the cons of "Hakes".

In this register, Marseille goalkeeper Pau Lopez, still preferred to icon Steve Mandanda, shone with his vigilance and his parades (21st, 32nd, 50th).

As for Kamara, he was able to catch up: the defensive midfielder equalized with a deflected shot by an opponent (26th) after a marvel of inspiration from Dimitri Payet, who let the ball slip behind him.

- Determinant payet -

The Reunionese playmaker, described Friday by Jorge Sampaoli as his "key player" and "technical leader", has also justified the praise of his coach in a long padlocked game.

His technical gestures, between dribbling and roulette, undermined the Lorient defense, his close-angle shot would have deserved better (5th), as well as his discount for Valentin Rongier when he could have struck himself.

Marseille supporters pay a final tribute to their former president Bernard Tapie, who died two weeks ago, before the match against Lorient at the Vélodrome stadium, on October 17, 2021 Nicolas TUCAT AFP

But on the corner that followed, Payet placed the ball on the mop of Mattéo Guendouzi, who scored with a splendid lobed header (56th).

And the N.10 was again decisive by launching in the axis Arkadiusz Milik, back as holder after a long injury.

The Polish center forward concluded with a cross shot (85th) and rekindled his connection with Payet, so successful last spring.

As for Guendouzi, still as valuable in his combative style, he was rewarded on the last goal at the end of the game (90th + 2), his strike having been deflected against his camp by Houboulang Mendes.

In short, apart from the interruption of the meeting for a few seconds at the hour of play due to a jet of projectiles from the stands, the Marseille party was perfect.

Lorient defender Julien Laporte tries to stop OM playmaker Dimitri Payet at the Vélodrome stadium, October 17, 2021 Nicolas TUCAT AFP

And the memory of Bernard Tapie, "Boss for Eternity" according to a banner, "Forever in our hearts" according to a T-shirt worn by the players during the warm-up, was greeted one last time by a lap of honor deserved by the Olympians.

© 2021 AFP