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 | 26 | 19 | 3 | 4 | +36 | 60 |
| Lens | 27 | 19 | 2 | 6 | +30 | 59 |
| Marseille | 27 | 15 | 4 | 8 | +19 | 49 |
| Lyon | 27 | 14 | 5 | 8 | +12 | 47 |
| Lille | 27 | 14 | 5 | 8 | +8 | 47 |
| AS Monaco | 27 | 14 | 4 | 9 | +9 | 46 |
| Stade Rennais | 27 | 12 | 8 | 7 | +6 | 44 |
| Strasbourg | 27 | 11 | 7 | 9 | +10 | 40 |
| Toulouse | 27 | 10 | 7 | 10 | +6 | 37 |
| Lorient | 27 | 9 | 10 | 8 | -4 | 37 |
| Brest | 27 | 10 | 6 | 11 | -5 | 36 |
| Angers | 27 | 9 | 5 | 13 | -13 | 32 |
| Paris FC | 27 | 7 | 10 | 10 | -11 | 31 |
| Le Havre AC | 27 | 6 | 9 | 12 | -13 | 27 |
| Nice | 27 | 7 | 6 | 14 | -20 | 27 |
| AJ Auxerre | 27 | 5 | 7 | 15 | -14 | 22 |
| Nantes | 26 | 4 | 5 | 17 | -21 | 17 |
| Metz | 27 | 3 | 5 | 19 | -35 | 14 |
Ligue 1 News