Olympique Marseille delivered a commanding 3–1 victory over RC Lens at a roaring Stade Velodrome, tightening their grip on third place in Ligue 1 and indirectly handing a timely boost to Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the table.

The hosts wasted no time in asserting control. Just three minutes into the contest, Amine Gouiri electrified the crowd with a brilliant solo run, cutting inside before calmly finishing to give Marseille the perfect start. Lens were still reeling when, ten minutes later, Ethan Nwaneri doubled the advantage with a composed strike that exposed the visitors’ early lack of focus.

It was a dominant first-half display from OM. Lens, who had not tasted defeat in the league since October, looked uncharacteristically flat as Marseille pressed aggressively and dictated the tempo, fully deserving their two-goal cushion at the break.

The second half unfolded at a more measured pace, with Roberto De Zerbi clearly keeping one eye on the upcoming European fixture. Even so, Marseille remained in control and delivered the decisive blow in the 74th minute. Gouiri completed his brace by turning in a precise assist from Timothy Weah, effectively ending the contest.

Lens managed a late consolation goal, but it did little to alter the narrative of the evening.

2025-26, France - Ligue 1

Marseille - Lens 3:1 (2:0)
Goals: Gouiri, 3 (1:0); Nwaneri, 13 (2:0); Gouiri, 75 (3:0); Fofana R-n, 85 (3:1)

Marseille: Rulli; Balerdi; Aguerd (Pavard, 74); Medina F.; Hojbjerg; Nwaneri (Greenwood, 58); Traorè Hamed (Bakola, 74); Gouiri (Aubameyang, 80); Paixao; Weah; Timber Q. (O`Riley, 74)
Substitution: Greenwood (from 58); Pavard (from 74); O`Riley (from 74); Bakola (from 74); Aubameyang (from 80)
Bench: de Lange; Egan-Riley; Murillo А.; Vermeeren

Lens: Risser; Aguilar (Bermont, 78); Udol; Sarr Mal.; Abdulhamid; Ganiou; Thomasson (Bulatović, 72); Sangaré; Thauvin (Sotoca, 78); Édouard O. (Sima A., 59); Saïd W. (Fofana R-n, 71)
Substitution: Sima A. (from 59); Fofana R-n (from 71); Bulatović (from 72); Sotoca (from 78); Bermont (from 78)
Bench: Gorgelin; Čelik N.; Antonio K.; Sylla
Yellow Cards: Saïd W. 37; Sangaré 61; Thauvin 70