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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang delivered a late brace as Marseille overturned Lyon 3-2 in Choc des Olympiques, securing Habib Beye’s first Ligue 1 victory in charge. Lyon twice led at Stade Velodrome but could not hold on, missing the chance to close in on second place after Lens dropped points.

The result followed Lens’ 1-1 draw at Strasbourg on Friday, which had allowed Paulo Fonseca’s side to move within five points of second with a win. Instead, Marseille extended Lyon’s frustration in this rivalry and ended a streak of four league matches without success.

Aubameyang, now 36, was central to Marseille’s response. The forward registered four chances worth a combined 1.3 expected goals, while the team’s overall xG totalled 2.0. Aubameyang converted both of his attempts on target, and only Mason Greenwood, with 11, recorded more touches in Lyon’s penalty area than Aubameyang’s nine.

This comeback also continued Marseille’s strong recent record at home against Lyon. Marseille have now claimed four consecutive home league victories in this fixture for the third time, matching similar runs from 1952-1956 and 1993-1997. The outcome underlined how difficult Stade Velodrome has become for visiting Lyon sides.

Across Ligue 1 history, Marseille and Lyon have shared 40 draws, with only Marseille versus Bordeaux producing more, at 41. The most recent league draw between Marseille and Lyon came in the 2020-21 season. Aubameyang’s late intervention kept that sequence of decisive outcomes going, as the fixture again produced a winner.

Lyon started strongly despite that history suggesting close contests. Endrick slipped Corentin Tolisso through, and Tolisso finished in the third minute to silence the home support. Early in the second half, Tolisso believed a second goal had arrived, but celebrations stopped when an offside decision ruled the effort out.

Marseille punished that escape almost immediately. Two minutes after Tolisso’s disallowed strike, Igor Paixao cut in from the right flank and bent a curling shot towards goal. Goalkeeper Dominik Greif could only help the effort into the top corner, bringing Marseille level and shifting the match’s momentum.

Lyon responded with another incisive move as Real Madrid loanee Endrick again influenced play. Endrick located Remi Himbert, who squared up the defender and drilled a precise finish into the bottom-left corner on 76 minutes. That goal appeared decisive, restoring Lyon’s advantage entering the closing stages.

Marseille rallied late, with Paixao again vital. With nine minutes of normal time remaining, Paixao delivered a cross that Aubameyang met on the volley, guiding a clean strike past Greif. The equaliser energised the home crowd and set up a tense finale with both attacks still threatening.

Stoppage time then produced the decisive moment. Ethan Nwaneri drove a low centre across the area in the first added minute, and Aubameyang reacted quickest to turn the ball home from close range. The goal sparked loud celebrations at Stade Velodrome and completed Marseille’s turnaround against their rivals.

Marseille vs Lyon: Endrick, Hojbjerg and creative numbers

Despite Lyon’s defeat, Endrick produced an influential display across the attacking third. Nobody on the pitch created more chances than Endrick’s four, a figure matched only by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Those contributions underlined why Endrick could regard the final score as harsh after a proactive individual performance.

The dramatic win gave Beye a significant early success in Ligue 1 and stabilised Marseille’s campaign. For Lyon and Fonseca, the missed opportunity to profit from Lens’ slip at Strasbourg may prove costly, especially given how often Marseille vs Lyon clashes influence standings near the top.

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