With 73 points, OM remains two lengths behind Lens, who travel Sunday to Lorient, a club that has nothing more to play for at the end of the season. Ironically, the success of Lille does the business of the great rival Lensois, closer than ever to the second place directly qualifying for the Champions League.

If OM grimaces, it is on the other hand an excellent result for Lille (5th), which returns to two units of Monaco (4th) and takes four points ahead of Rennes (6th) and Lyon (7th), the two clubs that can still deprive the Dogues of a European qualification.

The two coaches had decided to hit hard for this match: Igor Tudor, not retaining in his group Dimitri Payet or Nuno Tavares; Paulo Fonseca, with Carlos Baleba and Jonas Martin. The first had not been at such a party since February 1, while the second accumulated only half an hour of playing time in L1 since the World Cup.

After a start marked by injuries, that of Gigot on the Phocaean side and Ismaily on the northern side, Marseille opened hostilities by Jonathan Clauss. Launched on the left of the box, the French international saw his strike touched by Lucas Chevalier and then by Bafodé Diakité, but neither managed to prevent the ball from finishing its race in the back of the net (29th).

The former Lensois did not go far from the double when, served by Alexis Sanchez just before the break, he made a lucky little bridge on Bafodé Diakité and then saw his strike fly over the cages of Chevalier (45th).

Marseillais Jonathan Clauss (l) battles with Lille Timothy Weah (c) and Benjamin André, May 20, 2023 in Villeneuve-d'Ascq © Sameer Al-DOUMY /

Faced with Marseillais who knew how to fly on one of their rare opportunities, the Dogues remained short of solution for a long time, and joined the locker room without having framed a single shot.

Reverse Deal

The situation was reversed as soon as the locker room returned, on a stroke of fate. On a back pass to Pau Lopez, Carlos Baleba ran with all his strength towards the ball and managed to divert it at the last moment, just before being hooked by the Marseille goalkeeper who, launched, could not do anything to avoid it.

Lille Jonathan Bamba (l) and Jonathan David against Marseille, on May 20, 2023 in Villeneuve-d'Ascq © Sameer Al-DOUMY /

Specialist in the exercise, Jonathan David converted the penalty with a strike on the right of the Marseille goal (50th). The Canadian has scored eight penalties in the league this season, more than any other Ligue 1 player.

The Lille then knew how to be sharper, and multiplied the attacks launched, but each time lacked precision in the last pass or the last dribble.

Marseille were also more enterprising than in the first half, but Alexis Sanchez was flagged offside by a hair just after scoring what he had thought to be the goal of 2-1, on a beautiful strike at the entrance of the box (60th).

The Chilean took his head in his hands a few minutes later when, well served at the entrance of the surface, he missed his control (69th).

While the K-O seemed close on both sides, it was the Lille who administered it to the Marseillais. Back in play a few minutes earlier, Rémy Cabella sent a millimeter center to Jonathan Bamba who, from 5.50 meters, only had to send the ball into the back of the net to offer the advantage to Lille (72nd).

Marseille striker Alexis Sanchez against Lille, on May 20, 2023 in Villeneuve-d'Ascq © Sameer Al-DOUMY /

In a tense end of the match, the Marseillais tried to get back to the score but came up against the Lille defense and inaccuracies that cost them dearly.

© 2023 AFP