Olympique de Marseille secured a narrow 1–0 victory over AJ Auxerre at the Stade Vélodrome to record their third consecutive win in Ligue 1 and reduce the gap on the league’s top two teams.
The contest produced very little attacking threat in the opening half, with both sides combining for just four attempts on goal and none testing either goalkeeper.
Marseille came closest before the break when Mason Greenwood fired over from the edge of the penalty area, while Timothy Weah saw a promising effort blocked moments before halftime.
Auxerre struggled to create clear opportunities but remained organised defensively, ensuring Marseille were held to only their second goalless first half in 19 league matches.
The home side increased the pressure after the restart and nearly broke the deadlock early in the second half.
Auxerre goalkeeper Donovan Léon produced a brilliant double save, first denying Greenwood’s powerful long-range strike before quickly reacting to stop Pierre‑Emile Højbjerg on the rebound.
Despite surviving those scares, Auxerre almost took a surprise lead just before the hour mark when Kévin Danois fired over the crossbar from a promising position.
Minutes later, Igor Paixão also tried his luck from distance for Marseille but failed to find the target as frustration grew among the home supporters.
The breakthrough eventually arrived with a little over 10 minutes remaining. Substitute Amine Gouiri reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the box and poked it home to spark relief and celebration inside the Vélodrome.
Auxerre thought they had snatched a late equaliser when Bryan Okoh found the net, but the goal was ruled out for handball after review.
The decision sealed defeat for the visitors, who have now lost six of their last 11 league matches and remain stuck in the relegation play-off position.
For Marseille, the victory strengthens their push for a top-three finish while extending an impressive run of form at home this season.
