22:00: So, that was an impressive win by Marseille over rivals Lyon, which gives them a shot at 5th place and European football. It was one of their best performances of the season, and the onlooking Bielsa will be very pleased with what he has seen. Anyway, that is all from me! Until next time, Au Revoir!
21:57: FULL TIME: Marseille 4-2 Lyon.
21:54: This win puts Marseille just 2 points behind Lyon in the standings, with 2 games to go. They need Lyon to draw or lose one of their remaining games, and Marseille will be in with a shot at 5th place and a Europa League spot. 2 minutes of added time to go.
21:52: Into added time now, and Lyon have run out of steam. It looks like Marseille will claim an impressive victory against their old rivals.
21:47: As you would expect, Lyon are right on the front for here after the goal, but they realistically need one in the next minute or so to have any chance. Marseille resolute at the moment.
21:44: GOAL: Marseille 4-2 Lyon (Gomis). Surely not? Gomis fires in low past Mandanda to give his side a glimmer of hope. Marseille still lead by 2 goals, with just over 5 minutes of normal time remaining.
21:41: Grenier has made a massive difference since he has come on, and his delicate touch gives Lacazette a chance to shoot at goal, but he can only hit his shot over the bar. Should at least have troubled Mandanda there.
21:38: I have to say, Marseille’s back line has been immense today. Apart from the Mvuemba goal, which they could have done little about, they have completely nullified Lyon, allowing their attacking players to express themselves.
21:35: Substitution: Mathieu Valbuena is finally on for Marseille, on in place of Florient Thauvin, who had a little bit of an injury niggle. Valbuena will be pumped up for this game.
21:32: Thauvin goes down on the wing clutching his leg, and he needs attention. Should be fine to continue after a few pain killers and the magic spray.
21:30: Substitution: Lyon make an attacking change, as Grenier comes on for Bisevac. I reckon Gonalons is going to drop into that centre half role. Lyon need to go for this now.
21:28: The pace of the game has just slowed down a little in the last few minutes. I think both teams accept that this goal is all but over. Only a red card for Marseille could bring Lyon back into this.
21:25: Marseille’s fans are going absolutely mental at the moment, and who can blame them. Marseille have produced very few performances like this all season, so the fans should enjoy days like today.
21:22: Mvuemba lines up a free kick from 30 yards, but sends a poor shot well over the bar, drawing jeers from the crowd. His 25 yard screamer feels a long way away for Lyon at the moment…
21:19: GOAL: Marseille 4-1 Lyon (Gignac). The big man is at it again! Gignac is in the right position to score after Lopes brilliantly saved an Thauvin effort. Game over now surely.
21:16: Marseille win a free kick in a good position… Payet and Gignac behind it… and Payet takes it, but he gets underneath the ball, and it flies over the crossbar.
21:14: Perfect start to the second period there for Marseille. The Lyon defenders were appealing for offside, but Gignac was definitely onside when the ball was played. The Marseille crowd are enjoying what they are seeing.
21:11: GOAL: Marseille 3-1 Lyon (Gignac). Marseille restore their 2 goal cushion! Gignac is released on the right, cuts inside two defenders, sees his first shot saved by Lopes, but buries it on the second time of asking. Great goal, and Marseille back in control.
21:07: KICK OFF: Back underway in Marseille vs Lyon. Can Lyon complete the comeback?
21:00: Marseille played very well in that opening half, but have been pegged back by that stunning Mvuemba goal. The next goal here is crucial. If Marseille get it, it could be game over. If it goes to Lyon, game on for sure.
20:50: HALF TIME: Marseille 2-1 Lyon.
20:48: Close: Marseille have a chance to score a third! Payet sends in a low volley from the back post, but Lopes gets a strong foot behind the ball and sends it clear of the goal. Good save.
20:45: GOAL: Marseille 2-1 Lyon (Mvuemba). What a hit this is! Mvuemba works a yard 25 yards out, and sends an absolute pile driver past Mandanda and into the top corner. Exactly what Lyon needed before half time.
20:41: Marseille have not played this well for a while this season. All of Lyon’s attacks seem to break down, and Mandanda has not really been troubled since that early Lacazette chance.
20:37: The ball rebounds back to Gignac on the edge of the box, presenting a good chance to get a third for Marseille, but his contact is poor and the ball rolls into the grateful hands of Anthony Lopes.
20:34: Close: Lyon almost reduce the deficit straight away, as Gomis’ header cannons back off the post, but the Frenchman was given offside anyway. Better from Lyon.
20:31: GOAL: Marseille 2-0 Lyon (Thauvin). Brilliant goal. Thauvin meets a back post cross expertly to head over Lopes and into the far corner. Lyon look shell-shocked here, and Marseille are well on top at the moment.
20:27: Penalty Appeal: Oooh, contentious call here. Payet looks for all the world to be cleaned out by Bedimo in the box, but the referee is unmoved. Marseille enraged, and rightly so.
20:24: Lyon look to make an immediate response to that goal. They look a little shell-shocked with that Marseille equaliser, which was completely against the run of play in the 10 or so minutes before it.
20:20: GOAL: Marseille 1-0 Lyon (Diawara). Marseille have the lead against the run of play! A free kick is allowed to bounce in the box, and Gomis loses Diawara’s run, who manages to head home accurately into the bottom corner!
20:16: Suddenly, the ball is just not sticking for Marseille, and Lyon are pressing them very effectively at the moment. Gomis and Lacazette look like a danger already for the away side.
20:13: Lyon have come into the game in the last few minutes, and have created the game’s best chance, as Lacazette takes the ball past Mandanda, but cannot find a team mate with a pull back.
20:09: Marseille have started this game on the front foot, passing the ball around nicely in midfield, but haven’t created anything of note yet. Lyon look happy to hit them on the counter.
20:05: KICK OFF: We are underway in Marseille vs Lyon! Who will come out on top?
19:59: The players have just emerged from their tunnels, and kick off is imminent here. Marseille really need a win here to salvage what has otherwise been a poor season for them.
19:54: Team reaction: Bafetimbi Gomis comes into the Lyon side ahead of Jimmy Briand, who had been preferred in the last few matches for OL. He partners the ever-dangerous Lacazette, and those two will be bound to pose a constant threat to the Marseille back line. As expected, A-P Gignac leads the line for Marseille, ahead of a trio of creative talent in Thauvin, Ayew and Payet. With the number of attack-minded players on show, let’s hope we see a game full of goals and drama.
19:50: Lyon team vs Marseille: A.Lopes, Tolisso, Bisevac, Umtiti, Bedimo, Gonalons, Ferri, Mvuemba, Fekir, Lacazette, Gomis.
19:48: Marseille team vs Lyon: Mandanda, Morel, NKoulou, Diawara, Dja Djedje, Romao, Cheyrou, Payet, Ayew, Thauvin, Gignac.
19:45: Welcome one and all to a Live Commentary of some Sunday night Ligue 1 action, and boy do we have a game in store for everyone. Yes, it is Marseille vs Lyon, two clubs battling it out for a European spot, and it starts in just 15 minutes! Let’s get right into some team news…
