Caution or real concern?

While the season of his playing master Dimitri Payet is over, while Amine Harit and Arkadiusz Milik were unavailable, Cédric Bakambu, Bamba Dieng, Gerson and Duje Caleta-Car came out, apparently injured in turn.

Difficult under these conditions to know who Jorge Sampaoli will be able to line up for the last two matches of the season, capital in the race for the Champions League, especially since William Saliba, warned on Sunday, will be suspended for the last day.

At least the Marseillais have cheered up.

Hardly beaten by Lyon (3-0) last week, eliminated at the gates of the Europa League Conference final on Thursday, by Feyenoord Rotterdam, overtaken by Monaco on the L1 podium on Friday, they needed it.

The Marseillais Valentin Rongier (g) in the fight with the Lorientais Terem Moffi, May 8, 2022 in Lorient FRED TANNEAU AFP

The Merlus, rolled by Rennes (5-0) two weeks ago and now fallen to 17th place, within reach of the Saint-Etienne roadblockers, looked like the ideal victim.

Borrowed and silent the last two matches, the Marseille attack was a little slow to find the fault, before unfolding without forcing too much with Dieng, Matteo Guendouzi and Gerson.

Shy Lorient people

Because of the absences, Sampaoli had tinkered with a first line with Gerson and Cengiz Ünder on the wings and Cédric Bakambu at the forefront, entrusting the cages to Steve Mandanda, obviously new holder in L1.

But Bakambu came out after a quarter of an hour, replaced by Dieng, also out through injury at the same time as Gerson 20 minutes from the end of the match.

Traffic jam to be expected at the infirmary this week...

The Marseillais Gerson has just scored on the ground of Lorient, May 8, 2022 FRED TANNEAU AFP

Faced with Hakes folded in defense and drafts in their counter-attacks, the Marseillais quickly settled in the Lorient camp, gradually increasing the pressure.

Goalkeeper Matthieu Dreyer delayed the deadline for a time, with parries on headers from Gerson (22nd) and Dieng (26th).

But on a pressing launched by Guendouzi, Ünder stole the ball from Jérémy Morel and centered at the far post where Dieng, much less clumsy than against Feyenoord, opened the scoring with a high volley (1-0, 37th).

If Julien Laporte, forgotten in the area on a corner, thought he could equalize with a header that was finally too uncrossed just before half-time, Sampaoli's men took off as soon as they returned from the locker room on a strike from Guendouzi, who had made his professional debut in Lorient (2-0, 47th).

The Lorientais Laurent Abergel (d) is ahead of the Marseillais William Saliba, on May 8, 2022 in Lorient FRED TANNEAU AFP

And Gerson, often decisive in recent weeks, drove the point home on a millimeter pass from Dieng, launched in depth by Valentin Rongier (3-0, 67th).

For the Lorient, really shy Sunday despite a full and enthusiastic stadium, the moment of truth will be next Saturday, with a trip to almost sunk Bordeaux.

© 2022 AFP