Dijon FCO v Marseille
Mario Balotelli strikes again as Marseille see off Dijon in Ligue 1
Mario Balotelli's second goal in three games helped Marseille to a 2-1 win at Dijon in Ligue 1 on Friday.
The Italian striker, who joined last month from Nice, turned the ball in from close range in the 57th minute after winger Florian Thauvin headed on a corner from the right.
Marseille's second straight victory moved the side up to fifth ahead of this weekend's matches, and also took some pressure off coach Rudi Garcia following a poor run of results.
While Balotelli was the team's most dangerous player, a handling error from veteran goalkeeper Steve Mandanda led to Dijon's 18th-minute opener.
Although Mandanda covered his near post to smother defender Fouad Chafik's long-range shot, he did not push the ball away far enough and midfielder Jordan Marie followed up to drive it home.
Balotelli leveled before Argentine forward Lucas Ocampos produced a well-taken goal in the 73rd, cleverly cutting inside a defender on the edge of the area and curling the ball into the top corner.
On Saturday, runaway league leader Paris Saint-Germain are at home to Bordeaux.
Game Information
French Ligue 1 Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Saint-Germain | 28 | 20 | 3 | 5 | +37 | 63 |
| Lens | 29 | 20 | 2 | 7 | +28 | 62 |
| Lyon | 30 | 16 | 6 | 8 | +15 | 54 |
| Lille | 30 | 16 | 6 | 8 | +15 | 54 |
| Stade Rennais | 30 | 15 | 8 | 7 | +11 | 53 |
| Marseille | 30 | 16 | 4 | 10 | +18 | 52 |
| AS Monaco | 30 | 15 | 5 | 10 | +7 | 50 |
| Strasbourg | 29 | 12 | 7 | 10 | +9 | 43 |
| Lorient | 30 | 10 | 11 | 9 | -4 | 41 |
| Paris FC | 30 | 9 | 11 | 10 | -6 | 38 |
| Toulouse | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | -1 | 37 |
| Brest | 29 | 10 | 7 | 12 | -6 | 37 |
| Angers | 30 | 9 | 7 | 14 | -14 | 34 |
| Le Havre AC | 30 | 6 | 12 | 12 | -13 | 30 |
| Nice | 30 | 7 | 8 | 15 | -22 | 29 |
| AJ Auxerre | 30 | 5 | 10 | 15 | -14 | 25 |
| Nantes | 29 | 4 | 8 | 17 | -21 | 20 |
| Metz | 30 | 3 | 6 | 21 | -39 | 15 |
Ligue 1 News
