Provisionally overtaken Saturday by Lens (57 pts), winner of Angers (3-0), the Olympians are again second in Ligue 1 with 59 points, only seven units of the leader, Paris SG, defeated earlier Sunday by Rennes (2-0).

The Reims defence, which went six games without conceding a goal in the league, bowed to the Phocaean onslaught, and Will Still suffered his first defeat in Ligue 1 since replacing Oscar Garcia on the bench of Reims in October.

With 43 points, Reims drops to 9th place, overtaken by Lorient (8th, 44 pts).

Uninhibited against a candidate for the podium who had beaten them 4-1 in the first leg, at the very beginning of the season, the Reims opened the score in the 13th minute. After a magnificent control, Marshall Munetsi took the ball to the left of the box before serving Folarin Balogun, who scored his 17th league goal of the season.

In a totally unbridled start to the match, Marseille needed only a few minutes to equalize. On the engagement, Thibault De Smet committed a big foul on Cengiz Ünder, offering a free kick from 25 meters in the axis to the Olympians. A golden opportunity that Alexis Sanchez converted with a sublime bell strike, with the help of the left post of the cage of Yehvann Diouf (16th).

Alexis Sanchez's vista

Jordan Veretout of OM battles with Marshall Munetsi, of Reims, in Ligue 1 on March 19, 2023 at the Auguste-Delaune stadium in Reims © FRANCOIS LO PRESTI / AFP

The Chilean striker's vista paid off again a quarter of an hour later. After being forgotten by Reims captain Yunis Abdelhamid, Sanchez received alone against Yehvann Diouf a long ball from Pau Lopez, which he only had to push into the back of the net (29th).

Far from letting themselves down, Reims continued to look for the opening in the second half, and had several opportunities to equalize.

First, a header from Marshall Munetsi hit the outside of Pau Lopez's right post (58th), then the Marseille goalkeeper diverted with one hand a free kick from Alexis Flips that spun into the skylight (61st).

Munetsi had another chance a few minutes later, but Pau Lopez interposed on his shot (66th). On the counter, Nuno Tavarez dribbled Yehvann Diouf out of the Reims box but then totally missed his shot.

Reims midfielder Dion Lopy in turn distinguished himself a few minutes later with a powerful strike at the entrance of the box, stopped without difficulty by Pau Lopez (72nd).

Marseille never managed to score the goal of the K-O, despite a great opportunity for Samuel Gigot, served alone in the box by Alexis Sanchez, but who did not frame his head (83rd).

OM goalkeeper Pau Lopez interposes in front of Reims striker Folarin Balogun in Ligue 1 on March 19, 2023 at the Auguste-Delaune stadium in Reims © FRANCOIS LO PRESTI / AFP

In added time, Reims had one last chance to equalise but Balogun saw his strike hit the left post of Lopez (90th+3), sealing Marseille's success.

© 2023 AFP