Bafetimbi Gomis hat trick guides Marseille in Patrice Evra's debut

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:49 am

ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images

Bafetimbi Gomis blasted a hat trick as Marseille thumped Montpellier 5-1 in Ligue 1 on Friday.

The Swansea loanee took his Ligue 1 tally to 13 for the season with the triple, with Remy Cabella laying on the first two goals as Marseille bounced back from two heavy defeats.

Veteran left back Patrice Evra made his Marseille debut after joining this week from Juventus, and received a good ovation at Stade Velodrome when he was substituted with 20 minutes left. But it was his former France teammate who stole the headlines.

Gomis' first came in the fourth minute when Cabella headed the ball into the path of Gomis following a long kick from goalkeeper Yohann Pele, and he powerfully shrugged off a challenge from defender William Remy before rifling a shot home.

Cabella reacted sharply on the second goal in the 19th minute, heading a first-time pass from the left of the penalty area toward Gomis, who thumped the ball past Montpellier goalkeeper Laurent Pionnier from close range.

Portuguese defender Jorge Rolando headed in the third late in the first half, though Montpellier pulled a goal back at the start of the second when midfielder Ryad Boudebouz expertly curled in a free kick.

But Marseille had the last word, with Gomis slamming the ball into the roof of the net in the 77th minute after being set up by winger Florian Thauvin, who then added a late penalty after Remy was sent off.

The win moved Marseille up to fifth place ahead of this weekend's games and was a welcome boost following a 4-1 home loss to Monaco and a 3-1 away defeat at Lyon.