Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi scored the winner as Olympique de Marseille beat LOSC Lille Metropole 2-1 on Sunday to ensure that they will top the table at Christmas ahead of Olympique Lyonnais, who hammered Girondins de Bordeaux 5-0.
Batshuayi’s goal secured Marseille’s ninth straight home victory — their most impressive run of results at the Stade Velodrome since the 1990-1991 season — after Idrissa Gueye canceled out the Nolan Roux own-goal that had given the home side the lead.
Marseille, who were last crowned champions in 2010, took the symbolic title of “Autumn Champions” by a margin of two points ahead of Lyon, as Ligue 1 took a break for winter.
With their merciless victory over Bordeaux, Lyon leapfrogged champions Paris Saint-Germain, who are three points off the pace in third after a 0-0 draw with Montpellier Herault on Saturday. AS Saint-Etienne are in fourth after beating Evian Thonon Gaillard 3-0 on Sunday afternoon.
Batshuayi, who had only been used as a substitute in the league since signing from Standard Liege in the summer, was given the nod by coach Marcelo Bielsa after Dimitri Payet was dropped for an alleged lack of effort in training.
The Belgian U-21 international seized his chance in a game watched by a Velodrome record 62,048 spectators.
“I was especially eager for us to win this game, because for five months these players have put in so much effort, so to finish with a deserved victory at home is their reward,” said Bielsa, who dismissed talk of a bust-up with Payet.
The France winger had been Marseille’s in-form player in recent weeks before surprisingly being sent away on his Christmas holidays early.
“Nothing in particular happened. I simply decided to choose another player today and I didn’t think it was necessary for him to be in the squad of 18,” Bielsa said.
The hosts opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when Roux, in attempting to clear a Florian Thauvin corner, only succeeded in helping the ball into his own net.
Andre Ayew had a shot cleared off the line by Simon Kjaer, before Gueye escaped without a booking after catching Mario Lemina in the face with an arm.
The Senegal international made the most of his good fortune by leveling just after the hour mark with a shot from the edge of the area that beat Steve Mandanda in goal with the aid of a deflection.
However, the hosts sent the massed ranks of Marseille fans — many in Santa hats — into ecstasy in the 69th minute, as Batshuayi turned his marker and let fly an effort that gave Enyeama no chance.
Meanwhile, Lyon made it four league wins in a row to move above Paris as they outclassed 10-man Bordeaux at the Stade Chaban-Delmas, led by the in-form Lacazette.
Ligue 1’s leading scorer smashed home six minutes before halftime to set Lyon on their way and rounded off a stunning victory in the last minute to take his tally for the campaign to 17 goals.
In between, Corentin Tolisso scored early in the second half before Bordeaux’s Nicolas Pallois was sent off for chopping down Clinton Njie. Nabil Fekir and Jordan Ferri added further goals for the visitors.
Earlier, Saint-Etienne continued their excellent form by easing to victory at home to struggling Evian.
Max Gradel opened the scoring in the second minute before Romain Hamouma set up Ricky van Wolfswinkel to score his fifth of the campaign. Hamouma then scored aagain in the second half.
Les Verts are unbeaten in 10 Ligue 1 games and have gone six without conceding, while Evian end the year in the relegation zone.
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