.

With OM, Bakambu straight to the point

The sea air continues to do good for Olympique de Marseille, credited with a fifth consecutive away success in the Championship, against Sang et Or (7th with 33 points) competitors for European places.

In Pas-de-Calais, the Olympians brought their total points to 40, one more than Nice, before Les Aiglons traveled to Metz on Sunday (1:00 p.m.).

They also have additional ammunition with their match to be replayed against Lyon, on February 1 or 10.

The Olympians delivered a fine score, of a very high standard in the first period, and took revenge on Lensois who had beaten them 3-2 at the end of September at the Vélodrome.

Captain Dimitri Payet, who scored twice four months ago, put his team on the road to victory by scoring his eighth goal in the Championship this season, on a penalty (34th) obtained by Mattéo Guendouzi.

Marseille midfielder Dimitri Payet opens the scoring on a penalty against Lens, during the 22nd day of Ligue 1, on January 22, 2022 at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis FRANCOIS LO PRESTI AFP

Congolese striker Cédric Bakambu, recruited last week, made a sensational start at the end of the game, scoring the 2-0 goal (77th) after a stint with Guendouzi, two minutes after replacing Luis Henrique!

OM put an end to the faultless performance achieved so far in 2022 by Lens, seventh with a point ahead of their regional rival Lille.

Slowdown for Lille

The Lille, robust Sunday in Marseille (1-1) despite a long numerical inferiority, effective Wednesday against Lorient (3-1), gave in for their third match in six days.

In question?

An early own goal from Tiago Djalo (3rd), a penalty in added time from Steve Mounié (90th + 5) and, in the meantime, a lack of skill against Brest.

The joy of the Brestois, after a goal scored at home against Lille, during the 22nd day of Ligue 1, January 22, 2022 at the Stade Francis-Le Blé Fred TANNEAU AFP

"This first goal, we dragged it like a ball and chain all match. We put a lot of balls in the area, by crosses or dribbles, we have an incredible number of situations", noted coach Jocelyn Gourvennec , plagued by "great frustration".

The French champions recorded their sixth defeat of the season in the league, the first since that inflicted by PSG at the end of October in the capital.

They are eighth, seven points from the podium and only one unit ahead of Montpellier, hosts Monaco on Sunday (5:05 p.m.), and Lyon, timid winner of rival Saint-Étienne (1-0) on Friday.

At the Francis-Le Blé stadium, Lille had several equalizing balls, in particular by the incoming and returning Hatem Ben Arfa, whose recovery from the left was rejected by the goalkeeper (88th).

The story would have been great for the 34-year-old attacking midfielder, three days after his recruitment was formalized and … eight and a half months after his last appearance in L1, in May with Bordeaux.

Lille striker Hatem Ben Arfa, during the match of the 22nd day of Ligue 1 against Brest, January 22, 2022 at the Stade Francis-Le Blé Fred TANNEAU AFP

For Brest, it's the end of a bad series that lasted for more than a month (3 defeats and 1 draw).

Michel Der Zakarian's players had not won since December 4 in Marseille.

© 2022 AFP