Olympique de Marseille claimed a crucial 1–0 victory over AJ Auxerre in the opening fixture of Matchday 26 in Ligue 1, overcoming a tense atmosphere at the iconic Stade Vélodrome. The home supporters made their frustration clear before kick-off, greeting the team with whistles and protest banners following the club’s recent exit from the Coupe de France. But the players ultimately responded in the best possible way — with three vital points.

The first half offered little in terms of attacking inspiration from Olympique de Marseille. The hosts struggled to break down a well-organised AJ Auxerre defence, while Mason Greenwood frequently dropped deep in search of the ball, leaving the forward line short of presence inside the box.

After the break, however, the tempo changed. Encouraged by a more vocal Vélodrome crowd, Olympique de Marseille began to play with greater intensity and purpose. The decisive moment arrived in the 80th minute. Substitute Amine Gouiri combined neatly with Igor Paixão before finishing clinically from close range, firing past goalkeeper Donovan Léon to send the stadium into celebration.

AJ Auxerre came agonisingly close to an equaliser late on when Ousmane Camara (Okó) found the net, but the goal was ruled out for handball following a VAR check. Olympique de Marseille held on for a second consecutive clean-sheet victory in Ligue 1, extending their advantage over rivals Olympique Lyonnais to three points.

2025-26, France - Ligue 1

Marseille - Auxerre 1:0 (0:0)
Goals: Gouiri, 79 (1:0)

Marseille: Rulli; Egan-Riley (Gouiri, 62); Pavard; Medina F.; Greenwood (Nwaneri, 90); Kondogbia (Emerson Palmieri, 63); Hojbjerg; Paixao (Traorè Hamed, 90); Aubameyang (Nnadi, 90); Weah; Timber Q.
Substitution: Gouiri (from 62); Emerson Palmieri (from 63); Nnadi (from 90); Nwaneri (from 90); Traorè Hamed (from 90)
Bench: de Lange; Vermeeren; Abdelli
Yellow Cards: Medina F. 22; Egan-Riley 37; Paixao 78; Timber Q. 90

Auxerre: Leon Donovan; Diomande S.; Oppegard; Okoh B. (Rodin R-n, 88); Sy L. (Senaya, 67); Akpa; Owusu E.; Danois Kevin; Casimir (Ahamada N., 75); Mara S. (Faivre R., 67); Namaso
Substitution: Senaya (from 67); Faivre R. (from 67); Ahamada N. (from 75); Rodin R-n (from 88)
Bench: De Percin; Sierralta; Mensah G.; Zaddy; Dioussé
Yellow Cards: Okoh B. 45; Diomande S. 90