Marseille down Dijon to get back on track

Olympique de Marseille lifted the clouds over them as they registered a 2-0 win over stumbling Dijon FCO on Sunday to stay in touch with their rivals for a top-three finish.

 Olympique de Marseille 2-0 Dijon FCO 

THE MATCH
Marseille had lost their last two league games without scoring and had tasted defeat in all of their last four competitive fixtures, including Thursday’s 2-1 loss at Lazio that ended their UEFA Europa League campaign with two group games to spare.

Naïm Sliti, Dijon’s Marseille-born playmaker, forced the first save of the game from Steve Mandanda (9′) as the visitors, who had picked up just two points in nine having won their opening three games of the season, began positively.

Kostas Mitroglou, restored to the starting XI, scooped a good chance over (14′) and after Laurent Ciman — one of two first-half injury enforced substitutions for Dijon — had deflected a Florian Thauvin effort just wide (31′), the Greece international striker should have opened the scoring.

Mitroglou miss

The former Benfica and Olympiacos man will probably still be wondering how he managed to send the ball over the crossbar after Lucas Ocampos had lunged to turn Thauvin’s centre into his path with Runar Alex Runarsson desperately scrambling across his goal (34′).

Ocampos then forced the Dijon ‘keeper into a fine save (39′) before he got the finest of touches to Adil Rami’s near-post header to put Marseille in the lead deep into added time at the end of the half (45+3’).

Sliti again tested Mandanda (48′) before the France international ‘keeper smothered bravely at the feet of Wesley Saïd (59’) as Dijon, beaten 4-0 at home to Nîmes Olympique last time out, sought a leveller.

Nayef Aguerd’s header might have brought one had it been either side of Mandanda instead of straight at hime (70′), but when Rami flicked Kevin Strootman’s hook towards goal beyond Runarsson, the visitors’ ambitions were extinguished (85′).

THE PLAYER: Adil Rami
The France international centre-back was inspirational at both ends of the pitch just when his club needed him, and delighted partner Pamela Anderson, who was present in the Stade Orange Vélodrome stands.

THE STAT: 10
Dijon are now winless in ten league games.

>> Teamsheet

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