Olympique de Marseille shot up from ninth to sixth in Ligue 1 and into the European qualification places for the time being after making it four straight head-to-head victories against rock-bottom Clermont, winning 5-1 to extend Jean-Louis Gasset’s 100% record as head coach since taking over last month. What a turn of events for the experienced strategist who was sacked by Ivory Coast mid-AFCON, who eventually lifted the continental trophy without him. However, he seems to be doing just fine in the south of France.Clermont were happy to soak up pressure in the early stages, only facing one shot on target in the opening 15 minutes. However, midway through the first half, Pape Gueye’s incisive pass found Jonathan Clauss, who subsequently played in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Mory Diaw parried his effort, but only into the path of Iliman Ndiaye, who had the easy task of tucking in the opener four days short of his 24th birthday.🇫🇷👨🏫 Jean-Louis Gasset’s first 3 games as Marseille boss… ✅ 3-1 win vs Shakhtar Donetsk✅ 4-1 win vs Montpellier ✅ 5-1 win vs Clermont Foot12 goals scored, just 3 conceded. Up next, crucial UEL game vs Villarreal. pic.twitter.com/V20h29iD7u— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) March 2, 2024 Les Lanciers now had to show more adventure and, shortly after the interval, they unexpectedly drew level when Marseille made a complete hash of clearing a corner, with home captain Florent Ogier’s looping header guided in by the late-arriving Bilal Boutobba against his former club. Les Olympiens soon got their noses back in front though as a period of pressure culminated in Azzedine Ounahi’s cross finding Aubameyang at the back post. The Gabon international saw his downward header repelled by Diaw, but he followed in for his 50th Ligue 1 career goal.Cracks are beginning to show: Luis Enrique is slowly pushing Mbappe away as he ‘prepares for life without him’Both Gasset and under-pressure opposite number Pascal Gastien proceeded to make two changes apiece, but the alterations didn’t disrupt Marseille’s momentum and they quickly doubled their advantage when Amine Harit won possession from substitute Jim Allevinah and fed Ismaïla Sarr. The Senegal international then laid the ball off for Clauss to rifle in superbly at the near post. After Ndiaye just failed to make clean contact with a diving header, goal number four duly arrived for the visitors as a clinical breakaway saw Faris Moumbagna surge clear and square for Luis Henrique to stroke home for the first time since moving to Ligue 1 in 2020, before Moumbagna rounded things off with a 25-yard strike in stoppage time.
Clermont are now without a win in six in the league as their three-year top-flight stay threatens to come to an end, but they do travel to 17th-placed Metz next Sunday in a real six-pointer. Europa League duty, meanwhile, is next on the agenda for Marseille, who host Villarreal in the first leg of their last-16 clash on Thursday.LIGUE 1Friday Monaco – Paris Saint-Germain 0-0 Saturday Reims – Lille 0-1 (0-0)/David 56/Clermont – Olympique Marseille 1-5 (0-1)/Bouttoba 53 – Ndiaye 23, Aubameyang 59, Clauss 67, Luis Henrique 80, Moubagna 90+1/Sunday 15.00: (3.40) Toulouse (3.30) Nice (2.35)17.00: (1.63) Brest (3.80) Le Havre (5.70)17.00: (2.10) Montpellier (3.40) Strasbourg (3.60)17.00: (1.85) Nantes (3.45) Metz (4.50)19.05: (1.45) Rennes (4.70) Lorient (8.00)22:45: (2.55) Olympique Lyon (3.25) Lens (2.85)***odds are subject to change