Marseille continued their Ligue 1 recovery with a 2-0 win over Toulouse on Sunday, a fourth successive league victory that lifted Bruno Genesio's side to sixth place. With 15 points from nine matches, Marseille are two points off the podium. Amine Harit gave them an early lead in the second minute with a spectacular strike with the outside of his right foot, and Amine Gouiri doubled the advantage about 20 minutes later. Marseille then had to withstand pressure in the second half. Toulouse dominated for long spells, Igor Paixao hit the post with a header in the 60th minute, and the visitors had goals from Casper Tengstedt (68) and Santiago Hidalgo (77) ruled out for marginal offsides after video review. Genesio said the win showed his team were hanging in there, but warned that everything remained on a knife-edge and called for humility and caution. The league run contrasts with Marseille's Europa League campaign, which has brought three defeats in three matches. Thursday's game against Bayer Leverkusen and the following weekend's Ligue 1 trip to Lens should offer a clearer test of their momentum.
Lyon returned to third place with a 2-0 home win over Angers, who are 15th. After a poor October in which they lost three of five matches, Lyon took the lead in the 38th minute when Ernest Nuamah converted after Corentin Tolisso chested Abner's cross into his path. Tolisso sealed the win in the 86th minute, then left the pitch and embraced coach Paulo Fonseca. The Portuguese coach was in tears, an image that reinforced speculation about a departure during the next international window, from 9 to 17 November, for Sporting Portugal, as reported by the Portuguese press and L'Equipe. Fonseca said Tolisso's gesture had surprised him and described it as the emotion of someone who loves his players and his staff. He said a move to Sporting was possible but that he would be at training with Lyon on Monday.
Lyon now have 17 points, one behind second-placed Lille and three behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain. They are level on points with fourth-placed Paris FC, who beat Monaco 3-1. Paris FC, coached by Liam Rosenior, remained unbeaten at home this season. Monaco offered only a timid second-half response and a goal from Folarin Balogun. Paris FC's attacking trio of Pagis, Lopez and Kebbal caused problems, and Lassine Sinayoko scored a superb double and set up Pablo Pagis for the third goal. Sinayoko has eight goals this season and currently leads the scoring chart.
Strasbourg ended a run of four consecutive defeats with a 5-1 win over Auxerre. Auxerre, 13th, offered little resistance in a one-sided match. Gessime Yassine, in strong form, scored a late double to complete the victory, which moved Strasbourg up to 12th.
Sources: Le Monde Sport.