OM - TFC (1-0) : victory signed by Dimitri Payet

STARTING XI

To take on Toulouse, the championship's bottom side, André Villas-Boas made two major changes to his starting eleven. Dario Benedetto, who was announced as an injured player at the press conference, was replaced by Valère Germain at the head of the Olympic attack. The other change concerns Valentin Rongier. The midfielder, the only Marseille player to have played all the games in January-February, was left on the bench by his coach to take a breather. It is Maxime Lopez who replaces him. Steve Mandanda, uncertain, is in the starting line-up and is obviously wearing the armband.

The Olympic starting eleven: Mandanda (cap.) - Sarr, Gonzalez, Caleta-Car, Sakai - Lopez, Kamara, Sanson - Radonjic, Germain, Payet.

FIRST HALF 

From the very first minute, OM came within a whisker of being caught off guard by a former Olympian. Leya Iseka's deep throw-in caught Mandanda out and pushed the ball over the post. The ball fell to Alvaro Gonzalez, who cleared from a corner. The TFC had another dangerous chance through Boisgard, but the man of the moment, Steve Mandanda, was in great form as he pushed the ball back with his foot. After ten complicated minutes, l'OM gradually got their foot back on the ball as it approached the Toulouse goal. The TFC goalkeeper Kalinic, who had been little worried up to that point, was feeling pain and gave way to Reynet. L'OM came close to opening the scoring at the very end of the period. Radonjic, served by Payet, hit a shot but the Toulouse keeper was on top.

SECOND HALF

The scoreboard did not remain blank for very long in this second period. Just six minutes and a gem from Dimitri Payet gave the Olympians the lead. Bouna Sarr's shot from the edge of the box was perfect for the Olympian No10, who unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner of Baptiste Reynet. The rest of the time, l'OM controlled the game. Of course, he could have made things worse when Khaoui, who had come on a few minutes earlier, hit Reynet or when Payet, who had gone into the shot alone, could not find the target. The Toulousains were also active in the Marseille box, but the defence was far too solid to be worried. L'OM have now gone 13 games unbeaten in a row in the league! Impressive!

THE SERIES CONTINUES

Once again, OM did not concede a goal. Among the five major European championships, it is the only team to have such a statistic in 2020. And if the Olympians manage to keep their goal unbreached, they owe it to a defensively solid team, but above all to their goalkeeper and captain, Steve Mandanda, who is imperial in goal. Against Toulouse, the goalkeeper made some classy saves, such as the one he made in front of Leya Iseka's volley. Reassuring in his aerial outings and his saves, Steve Mandanda proved once again that he is an exceptional goalkeeper.

Rendez-vous AT Lyon

The marathon continues for the Olympians, who are playing in their French Cup quarter-final on Wednesday 12 February. A big match awaits Villas-Boas and their players, who will travel to Groupama Stadium to take on Lyon.

In the championship, the Olympians have confirmed their runners-up spot and have scored 49 points, 9 more than their next opponents in the championship, Lille.