Marseille fans were starting to wonder whether Andre-Pierre Gignac was really worth the 16.5 million euros the club paid for him this summer, but the French striker is finally starting to silence his critics.
Gignac scored a hat trick in a 7-0 rout of Zilina in the Champions League on Wednesday, hitting form again at the right time ahead of Sunday's French league match at fierce rival Paris Saint-Germain.
Gignac had netted just once since joining Marseille from Toulouse, but scored with his right knee for the opening goal at Zilina then latched onto a precise pass before netting with a left-footed strike.
Marseille sits third in the French league standings with 18 points, two more than seventh-placed PSG, and is unbeaten at the Parc des Princes since a 2-1 loss six years ago.
The top striker in the French league in the 2008-09 season with 24 goals, Gignac raised high expectations when he joined the defending French champions last August.
Gignac, who was born in the Marseille area, said when he signed his five-year lucrative contract that playing for the club had been a boyhood dream.
Gignac has often been compared to former Marseille great Jean-Pierre Papin, but struggled to settle at Marseille after being hampered by a groin injury as he scored only eight goals last season.
Before Wednesday's routing of Zilina, Gignac's only goal had come in a 1-1 draw against Saint-Etienne last month, raising doubts about his ability to live up to expectations in a club well known for putting pressure on new players to perform.
But coach Didier Deschamps' support never wavered, as Gignac was given seven starts in the eight league matches he played and featured in the club's four Champions League encounters this season.
"He had good legs, he was available and was able to make differences with a good individual display," Deschamps said after the game in Slovakia, where Marseille recorded the biggest ever away win in the Champions League. "His confidence and his experience are growing, and by playing regularly he is going to be more efficient in front of goal."
Marseille supporters won't be able to watch Gignac play at bitter rival PSG after the French football league decided that away fans won't be allowed at Parc des Princes due to security fears.
Last season, there were major clashes in the Marseille city center between the teams' supporters, and Marseille fans were subsequently banned from attending the return match in Paris.
But factions of rival PSG fans fought each other in the streets around PSG's Parc des Princes and a 38-year-old supporter died after serious head injuries and a coma.
Marseille wanted to bring around 1,500 fans this weekend and there are now fears some of the hardcore supporters will try to ignore the ban and travel independently to Paris.
"I hope that at least this decision guarantees everyone's safety, I obviously doubt it," said Marseille president Jean-Claude Dassier. "Leaving Marseille supporters alone, without escort, could have dramatic consequences."
Marseille has overcome a poor start to the season to be only three points behind surprise leader Brest, with one game in hand after its match against Rennes last weekend was postponed because of torrential rain which left the pitch flooded at the Stade Velodrome.
"I know my players will be motivated on Sunday," Deschamps said. "We are traveling to Paris with confidence but we don't want to get overly confident because a big match is awaiting us."
Seven-time champion Lyon will face a stiff test at second-place Rennes on Saturday, looking to bounce back from its first Champions League loss this season at Benfica.
Despite the 4-3 defeat, Lyon remained atop Group B with nine points but is languishing in 10th place in the French league standings, having already lost four games.
Also Saturday, it's: Arles vs. Caen; Bordeaux vs. Valenciennes; Saint-Etienne vs. Lorient; Sochaux vs. Auxerre.
Montpellier travels to Lens on Sunday looking to extend its unbeaten run in all competitions to five games while promoted Brest plays at Lille.
Brest moved to the top of the standings last weekend with a 2-0 win over Saint-Etienne and has not conceded a goal in its last eight games.
"This is a great surprise," coach Alex Dupont said. "They are surprising me match after match. I love my players' enthusiasm and generosity, but they also pleased me with the quality of their play."
In Sunday's other matches, Nancy hosts struggling Monaco and Toulouse travels to Nice.
