Marseille climb to top of table
Marseille defeat Saint-etienne to join Lyon, Paris Saint-germain at the top
Paris, Dec. 24: Marseille remained in a three-way tie for the lead of Ligue 1 on Sunday after a 1-0 win over St Etienne, extending the visitors’ miserable record at Stade Velodrome where they haven’t won since 1979.
The only goal of the game came in first-half stoppage time when Ghana striker Andre Ayew headed in a pinpoint, right-wing cross from Rod Fanni for his fifth league strike of the season.
Third-placed Marseille move onto 38 points — the same as Paris Saint Germain and Lyon — but it is the capital city side who lead the way into the two-week winter break on goal difference.
After breaking the dead-
Marseille move onto 38 points — the same as Paris Saint-German and Lyon — but it is PSG who lead the French league on goal difference
lock, Ayew then came close to adding a second 10 minutes into the second-half but his shot was saved by Stephane Ruffier in goal.
At the other end, Steve Mandanda pulled off a flying point-blank save from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang only for the St Etienne striker to be ruled offside. Aubameyang was then clear on goal only to be denied by a fine sliding tackle by Fanni as Marseille held firm to put an end to a two-match home losing streak.
Lyon defeated Nice 3-0 on Saturday to go level with Paris Saint-Germain.
Lisandro Lopez, Anthony Reveillere, with his first league goal in over five years, and a Bafetimbi Gomis penalty gave Lyon the three points.
It was a disappointing return to Lyon for former boss Claude Puel whose side ended the match with 10 men after David Ospina was sent off while the home side also finished a man short when Dejan Lovren was red-carded in the last minute. — AFP