Amine Gouiri and Ismaël Bennacer played pivotal roles as Olympique de Marseille secured a commanding 5–1 win over Montpellier on Saturday, reigniting their hopes of finishing second in Ligue 1 during an otherwise turbulent second half of the season.
With Champions League qualification still within reach, Marseille approached the clash with Montpellier knowing that only a victory would suffice.
Facing a side teetering on the brink of relegation, OM took full advantage of their opponent’s frailty in a dominant display at the Stade Vélodrome.
The match began in subdued fashion, with Mason Greenwood converting a penalty in the first half to give Marseille a 1–0 lead.
The opening 45 minutes were largely uneventful, but OM returned from the break with renewed purpose and greater attacking conviction.
Amine Gouiri doubled the advantage in the 60th minute, capitalising on confusion in the Montpellier back line to register his fifth goal for Marseille.
The Algerian striker continued to trouble the defence, narrowly missing a second minutes later when his header was cleared off the line.
Head coach Jean-Louis Gasset then made a double substitution in the 65th minute, introducing Ismaël Bennacer to bring fresh energy and control to the midfield.
Though his influence was subtle at first, the Algerian international quickly began to dictate the rhythm of play, tightening Marseille’s grip on possession and steering the team toward a comfortable finish.
Bennacer’s quality eventually came to the fore when he delivered a pinpoint assist to Adrien Rabiot, who slotted home Marseille’s fourth goal with precision.
It marked Bennacer’s second assist since joining the club and further underlined his growing importance in the OM setup.
Montpellier, who were without their influential forward Andy Delort, showed little resistance throughout and struggled to contain the home side’s attacking force.
The defeat leaves them facing near-certain relegation to Ligue 2, with their hopes of survival now hanging by the thinnest of threads.
The contrast between the two teams could hardly have been more stark. While Montpellier looked resigned to their fate, Marseille played with urgency and confidence, spurred on by the knowledge that Monaco had dropped points in a goalless draw against Strasbourg.
That result allowed OM to leapfrog into second place in the standings, a position they will retain at the end of the matchday regardless of other outcomes.
Gouiri’s sharpness in front of goal and Bennacer’s composed playmaking were standout features in a much-needed result for Marseille, who have endured an inconsistent run of form since the turn of the year.
The win not only boosts morale but also restores some control in their pursuit of a top-two finish.
With just a handful of matches remaining in the season, Marseille will be keen to build on this performance and cement their place among Ligue 1’s elite.
For Montpellier, however, the path ahead looks grim, with time and points running out fast in their bid to avoid the drop.
MAGNIIIIIFIQUE PASSE DECISIVE DE BENNACER POUR RABIOT #TEAMOM pic.twitter.com/rJX87l64F8
— Chebli Ishaq (@IshaqChebli) April 19, 2025
