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Lens logo
Ligue 1
Mar 22, 2015 at 8pm UK
 
Marseille

0-4

FT(HT: 0-0)
Batshuayi (46', 93'), Romao (67'), Ayew (72')

Marseille keep pressure on top two

Marseille ease to a 4-0 victory over Lens to collect three crucial points in their bid to claim the Ligue 1 title.

A dominant second-half performance handed Marseille a 4-0 victory over Lens this evening to put more pressure on Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain in the Ligue 1 title race.

Marseille's Ghanaian forward Andre Ayew celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Lens and Marseille on March 22, 2014© Getty Images

Marcelo Bielsa's side created the first clear chance of the match as Dimitri Payet drifted into space before picking out Andre-Pierre Gignac, who could only slice wide of the post.

Lens were positive with their approach, but Marseille created the better chances early on as both Florian Thauvin and Andre Ayew missed the target from promising positions.

A moment of magic from Pablo Chavarria should have given the hosts a breakthrough as he turned into space to deliver a cross which was somehow diverted wide by Yoann Touzghar.

Marseille dominated either stage of the interval, and they were rewarded with the opening goal early in the second half when half-time substitute Michy Batshuayi found the room to convert Payet's inviting cross.

Batshuayi continued to be a constant threat to the vulnerable Lens defence, with only a fine save from Rudy Riou preventing him from finding the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

However, it would prove to be a comfortable finish as Marseille pulled away from the home side thanks to two goals in four minutes, with Alaixys Romao doubling the lead from close range after Payet's free kick had struck the post.

Marseille's Ghanaian forward Andre Ayew vies with Lens' French defender Loick Landre during the French L1 football match between Lens and Marseille on March 22, 2014© Getty Images

Lens couldn't handle the pace of the Marseille attacks, and it was Ayew who finished the job with a calm finish from a Benjamin Mendy cross.

The hosts struggled to produce any kind of response, and Marseille added a fourth when Ayew found Batshuayi, who fired home to clinch a win which moves his side within a point of Lyon and two behind leaders PSG.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG12102036102632
2MonacoMonaco1282221101126
3Marseille116232415920
4Lille115421811719
5Lyon115331815318
6Nice1145221111017
7Reims115241915417
8Lens11452129317
9Auxerre115152019116
10Toulouse124351314-115
11StrasbourgStrasbourg113442022-213
12Brest124171622-613
13Rennes113261318-511
14NantesNantes112451417-310
15Angers112451320-710
16Saint-EtienneSt Etienne113171025-1510
17Le HavreLe Havre11308823-159
18Montpellier HSCMontpellier112181131-207


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