Dimitri Payet's brace and Andre-Pierre Gignac's second-half strike were enough to help Marseille to comfortable victory over mid-table Bastia to keep alive their hopes of Champions League qualification.

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L'OM started brightly and Mathieu Valbuena tried to fire the hosts in front in the opening stages, only to see his effort blocked by the Corsican side's defence.

They were ahead on 13 minutes when Payet latched on to Gignac's through ball and the ex-St Etienne forward tucked the ball past Mickael Landreau.

He doubled their lead midway through the first half after his shot from the edge of the box found the top corner of Landreau net, giving him no chance.

The Corsicans looked for a response, but their only chance of note before half-time fell to Sambou Yatabare who fired his effort wide of Steve Mandanda's goal.

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Gignac put the result beyond doubt 10 minutes into the second half when he swept home Valbuena's cross from close range as Bastia looked to be in danger of a thrashing.

Ryad Boudebouz tried to pull a goal back for the visitors as L'OM took their foot off the pedal, but his shot from the edge of the area was kept out by Mandanda.

The result leaves Marseille just two points behind third-placed St Etienne who have 41, but fourth-placed Lille can go back into third with a win this weekend.