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MARSEILLE: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice as Olympique de Marseille fought back to win 3-2 at home to Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1 on Sunday to reignite their Champions League push.
Corentin Tolisso gave Lyon an early lead as Marseille were caught trying to play out from the back, but half-time substitute Igor Paixao equalised with a fine curling effort from distance.
Remi Himbert put Lyon back in front with his first league goal on 76 minutes only for Aubameyang to bring Marseille level, steering in after Paixao hooked the ball into the box.
Aubameyang sparked wild celebrations at the Velodrome in the first minute of stoppage time as he slid in to turn home Ethan Nwaneri’s cross, bringing an end to Marseille’s four-game winless run.
It was also the club’s first victory under new coach Habib Beye, who took over last month after the departure of Roberto De Zerbi.
“I’m very happy to win tonight, especially in an ‘Olympico’, in such a fiery stadium,” Aubameyang said. “Not everything was perfect, but we saw that we had what it takes to go for the win... and that we could wear them down in the end.”
Marseille pulled to within two points of third-placed Lyon, who suffered their second straight loss after going down to Strasbourg last weekend.
Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca was furious Tolisso had a goal ruled out for offside that would have made it 2-0 to his team early in the second half.
“I don’t want to talk about anything,” Fonseca told reporters. “What can I say... The better team lost today. We scored three goals today.”
Fonseca only returned to the touchline in December after serving a nine-month domestic ban for an altercation with a referee last season.
“I was suspended for nine months. I don’t want to say anything,” he added.
Only the top three in Ligue 1 qualify directly for the league phase of the Champions League, with the team in fourth having to go through two qualifying rounds.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Paris FC made a winning start under new coach Antoine Kombouare with a goal from Zimbabwe international Marshall Munetsi earning the hosts a 1-0 victory over Nice.
Nathan Ngoy, who struck in extra time midweek to send Lille through to the Europa League last 16, scored another late goal to hand his side a 1-0 win at home to Nantes. Brest edged bottom side Metz 1-0, while Lorient drew 2-2 with Auxerre.
Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2026
