Key Takeaways
- Olympique de Marseille secured a 2-0 victory over Troyes, ending a four-game losing run.
- Goals from Amine Harit and Himad Abdelli lifted Marseille to 13th place in Ligue 1.
- Coach Bruno Genesio emphasized the importance of stopping the club’s downward spiral.
Olympique de Marseille secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Troyes on Sunday, ending their four-game losing streak in Ligue 1. The win lifted the struggling club to 13th place, moving them out of the relegation zone.
In the second half, Amine Harit and Himad Abdelli scored the goals that secured the victory. Harit’s goal came shortly after half-time, while Abdelli converted a late penalty to put the game beyond Troyes.
Despite the win, Marseille’s coach Bruno Genesio acknowledged that the performance was not their best. 'Even if we know we can do better and this wasn’t our best match, we won this one, and sometimes you have to be pragmatic,' he said.
Genesio stressed the importance of building on this result, particularly against Olympiakos in the Europa League and Angers next week. 'We’re going to need a positive run. You could see, particularly towards the end of the first half, that we were quite tense and a bit timid in our play. This type of victory can help restore our confidence,' he added.
The victory came at a cost for Marseille, with key players Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Timothy Weah missing due to injury and suspension respectively. Hojbjerg suffered an injury during the international break, while Weah was sent off in the loss to Paris Saint-Germain last month.
Elsewhere in Ligue 1, Rennes moved up to third with a 4-1 win over Auxerre, while Nice came from behind to beat Strasbourg 2-1. AS Monaco remain unbeaten but missed a chance to open up a larger lead at the top, as Toulouse forced a 2-2 draw. Paris Saint-Germain were comfortable 3-1 winners against Le Mans, with their next test coming against Manchester City in the Champions League next week.
Marseille’s victory marks a significant turnaround for the club, which had been struggling in recent weeks. The team now aims to build on this result and move forward in both domestic and European competitions.
Even if we know we can do better and this wasn’t our best match, we won this one, and sometimes you have to be pragmatic.
Bruno Genesio, Marseille Coach
