Olympique de Marseille secured a vital 1-0 win at AJ Auxerre in Ligue 1's 11th round, courtesy of Angel Gomes' first-half goal. Despite Ulisses Garcia's 65th-minute red card, the Phocians held firm, thanks to Gerónimo Rulli's key saves. The victory lifts Marseille back to second in the standings.
The match took place Saturday evening at Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps, where Marseille ended a three-game winless streak, including defeats to Lens (2-1) and Sporting Portugal (2-1) in the Champions League, plus a draw against Angers (2-2). Angel Gomes scored in the 30th minute off a cross from Michael Murillo, poorly cleared by Auxerre goalkeeper Donovan Léon, who touched the ball but too short to avert danger.
Missing seven injured players – Leonardo Balerdi, Facundo Medina, Timothy Weah, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Bilal Nadir, Hamed Junior Traoré, and Amine Gouiri – and resting starters like Paixão and Mason Greenwood, Roberto De Zerbi's OM dominated possession at 60% in the first half. Ulisses Garcia was sent off in the 65th for a high foot on Ibrahim Osman, complicating matters.
Gerónimo Rulli shone, denying Osman one-on-one in the 59th and Namaso's header in the 76th, securing Marseille's first clean sheet since the 4-0 win at Metz in early October. For Auxerre, Kévin Danois impressed with 54/60 passes and a precise cross, but the team lacked finishing, suffering a third straight loss and dropping to 17th, relegation zone.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was subdued, managing just one shot in the 10th minute and subbed off in the 78th. This win over their bogey team from last season, where they lost twice, puts Marseille two points behind PSG.