Three days after qualifying for the Europa League Conference play-offs, the Marseille team perfectly got around the Alsatian trap but had to wait for the hour of play to make the difference with two goals signed Bamba Dieng (62), with a superb returned, and Duje Caleta-Car from the lead (82).

The joy of Senegalese striker from Marseille, Bamba Dieng, after opening the scoring against Strasbourg, during the 18th day of Ligue 1, December 12, 2021 at the Stade de La Meinau SEBASTIEN BOZON AFP

This ninth victory of the season allows Jorge Sampaoli's men, who have shown great solidity against Alsatians who are however irresistible in front of their boiling crowd of Meinau, to become the new dolphins of Paris SG thanks to the defeat. Rennes at home against Nice (2-1).

With 32 points on the clock, OM are ahead of Rennes and Nice by one and two lengths respectively.

The Olympians have also played one game less since they will have to replay behind closed doors the meeting in Lyon, interrupted after a bottle throw on Dimitri Payet.

Remaining on six matches without defeats (3 wins, 3 draws), Strasbourg marked time after its two convincing successes against Bordeaux (5-2) and Nice (3-0) last week.

The Alsatians are down a notch to seventh place (26 points).

Dieng's Return

From the start of the game, Julien Stephan's players tried to settle in the Marseille camp, with a big pressing, but it was the Marseillais who, little by little, took control of the debates.

The first opportunity was therefore Olympian, with a strike from Pape Gueye who flirted with the post, after a corner rejected by the Alsatian defense (7th).

Marseille's efficiency concerns observed in recent weeks were confirmed in the wake with two badly negotiated chances by Bamba Dieng.

On the first, the attacker pushed the ball too far while a face to face was emerging with Matz Sels (15th) and on the second, launched ideally by Dimitri Payet, the Senegalese missed the frame (27th).

Meanwhile, Strasbourg striker Habib Diallo was denied a goal with a justified offside (13th).

Back from the locker room, it was Strasbourg who put the pressure from the start by obtaining his first two shots on target by Ludovic Ajorque (50) and Diallo (57th), well negotiated by Pau Lopez.

But it was the Marseillais who finally scored the first on a splendid acrobatic return from Dieng (0-1, 62nd).

At the origin of the recovery, the Marseille striker was also at the finish after a stint with Payet and a cross from Luis Henrique.

Senegalese striker from Marseille, Bamba Dieng, opens the scoring against Strasbourg, during the 18th day of Ligue 1, December 12, 2021 at the Stade de La Meinau SEBASTIEN BOZON AFP

After an equalizer missed by Ajorque, who did not support his shot enough (77th), Caleta-Car doubled the lead at the near post on a corner from Payet and sealed the precious and deserved victory in Marseille ( 0-2, 82nd).

© 2021 AFP