Marseille have moved up to fourth in the Ligue 1 table after clinching a comfortable 2-0 win over Metz this evening.
Steve Mandanda had to be alert in the Marseille goal early on as the home side looked to take the lead in the opening couple of minutes, but the keeper was ready for Kevin Lejeune's first-time strike.
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Andre Ayew had the ball down the other end a few minutes later after a quick break from Romain Alessandrini, but the striker's finish was well wide.
Gianelli Imbula forced the first save of the night from Anthony Mfa Mezui as Marseille continued to see more of the ball, but his low, drilled finish was straight at the keeper.
The visitors continued to look the more likely though, and took the lead shortly before half time when Dimitri Payet's corner delivery was only cleared as far as Andre-Pierre Gignac, leaving the striker to blast the rebound into the bottom right.
Kevin Lejeune came close to levelling the scores a few minutes later when the hosts won a free kick around 25 yards out, but Mandanda watched it fly high of the crossbar.
Mfa Mezui came under pressure between the posts for Metz again early in the second half as Ayew created some space on the edge of the area before blasting a low strike towards the target, only to see it turned away by the keeper.
Marseille did double the advantage just after the hour mark though, as Gignac picked the ball up just outside the box before lobbing it beyond the keeper for his second goal of the night.
Benjamin Mendy looked to make it three as Marseille continued to dictate the play, but he could not find the target after cutting through the middle to unleash his low drive.
Ayew could have put the win beyond doubt late on, collecting the ball inside the box before quickly looking for the left corner, but Mfa Mezui's reaction kept it out.
Fakhreddine Ben Youssef tried to give the hosts some hope heading into stoppage time as he blasted the ball towards the Marseille goal from the edge of the area, but the shot was deflected behind.
The result puts Marseille in the Europa League spot, although they have played a game more than those around them, while Metz stay 19th, eight points from safety with just three matches remaining.
Sian Cowper
