With an own goal from Nantes Joao Victor (56th) and a final banderilla from new recruit Azzedine Ounahi (90th + 3), OM resumed their march forward, with the hope of starting a new series of victories , like the one stopped by the draw (1-1) against Monaco.

The situation is more delicate for Nantes, which remains 13th with a very small mattress of points in front of the red zone and a dantesque program for the month of February between L1, Coupe de France and Europa League play-offs.

The Canaries have conceded their first goals since the post-World Cup resumption and have not yet found the solution in attack.

Played with great intensity in a full Beaujoire stadium – with Nantes but also a good dose of OM supporters – the match remained closed for a long time.

If Vitinha, the big fish caught at the close of the transfer window for a record amount for OM (up to 32 million euros with bonuses), was not qualified, another Marseille attacking recruit, Ruslan Malinovskyi, s is noted with a powerful shot that almost escaped from the hands of Alban Lafont (24th).

The Ukrainian, released on the hour mark apparently hit in one leg, however did not find the frame on a good free kick (28th) and he badly negotiated an excess (32nd).

Ounahi: an opportunity, a goal

But he was not the only clumsy: Cengiz Ünder crushed his shot too much on a superb pass from Alexis Sanchez (26th).

The former Nantes player Jordan Veretout, appearing in the area, did not take the time to frame his shot (54th).

And at the end of the match, on a magnificent opening from Mattéo Guendouzi, Jonathan Clauss, back from injury and launched alone in front of Lafont, shot wide (83rd).

After setting a record for boredom on Sunday in Clermont, with a match without a single shot on target on both sides, the Canaries found a bit of offensive animation, sometimes making the fans roar, as on a header from Ignatius Ganago past near the frame (47th).

Gradually, however, the Marseillais gained the upper hand, in particular thanks to the work of Nuno Tavares.

And it was on a pass from the Portuguese side for Ünder in the area that the Canaries cracked, when Joao Victor tackled the ball directly into his goal (0-1, 58th).

While Nicolas Pallois is still in the infirmary and Jean-Charles Castelletto was suspended, the Brazilian defender loaned last week by Benfica had been established from the start when he hardly played all season.

In the last quarter of an hour, the entry of Andy Delort, given a standing ovation by La Beaujoire, galvanized his team, who almost equalized on a header from Evann Guessand, repelled by Pau Lopez.

Opposite, Azzedine Ounahi, the Moroccan revelation of the World Cup just arrived from Angers in Marseille, only needed one opportunity to dribble past Andrei Girotto twice and give Marseille the advantage definitively (0-2, 90th +3).

© 2023 AFP