Bielsa's Marseille top out-of-sorts Lille to finish 2014 atop Ligue 1
Marseille moved three points clear at the top of Ligue 1 thanks to a 2-1 win against out-of-sorts Lille at the Stade Velodrome.
With title-rivals Paris St Germain dropping points at home to Montpellier on Saturday, Marcelo Bielsa's side needed no second invitation to take full advantage as Nolan Roux's first-half own goal set them on their way. Lille threatened to spoil the hosts' afternoon when Idrissa Gueye leveled have way through the second-half but any hopes of a point were quashed when the impressive Michy Batshuayi restored Marseille's lead eight minutes later.
Defeat for Lille continued a depressing run of form which has seen them claim just one win in 16 all competitions. The hosts began the brighter and Basthuayi went close early on after Florian Thauvin picked him out by the young Belgian's effort was countered by Marco Basa before going out for a corner.
Chances continued to fall l'OM's way and Andre-Pierre Gignac wasted a good opportunity with quarter of an hour played, turning well in the area before shooting wide. Lille's main threat was on the counter but weak efforts from Ryan Mendes and Rio Mavuba were all the visitors had to shout about before Marseille broke the deadlock just after the half hour mark when Roux sliced Thauvin's near-post corner beyond Vincent Enyeama.
Batshuayi was impressing in his first Ligue 1 start of the season and his good work presented Gianelli Imbula with an opportunity but the former Guingamp midfielder fired wildly wide. The wind in Marseille's sails seemed to diminish at the interval and the hosts paid the maximum price for a slow start to the second-half when Lille leveled on the hour mark.
Divock Origi picked out Djibril Sidibe in the area and the young defender's intelligent pass found Gueye in space who, with the aid of a fortunate deflection, fired beyond Mandanda. Marseille responded well and Brice Dja Djedje fired over after being released by Gignac before Bielsa's men restored their one goal advantage on 69 minutes.
Thauvin combined well with Gignac before delivering to Batshuayi who turned Basa well inside the area before thumping the ball beyond Enyeama for his second league goal of the season. Despite some expected late pressure from Rene Girard's side, Marseille held on to claim the three points that put in them in a commanding end-of-year position at the top of Ligue 1.
Meanwhile, St. Etienne moved to within five points of the Ligue 1 summit after cruising to a 3-0 victory against Evian to end 2014 in fine style.
fourth-placed St. Etienne were 1-0 ahead in the second minute when Max Gradel slotted home, before Ricky van Wolfswinkel doubled their advantage after 20 minutes to put the hosts firmly in control. Romain Hamouma then added a superb third shortly after the hour mark to cap off a convincing display by Christophe Galtier's side, who are now unbeaten in 10 league games.
The result moved Les Verts on to 36 points from their 19 matches - level with third-placed Lyon, who face a tricky away game at Bordeaux later on Sunday night.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
