Brilliant Gignac keeps Marseille run going

PARIS (AFP) –

Marseille’s French midfielder Andre Pierre Gignac reacts after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match Olympique of Marseille (OM) vs Rennes (SRFC).

Marseille moved back to the top of the Ligue 1 table on Sunday after continuing their perfect start to the campaign thanks to a 3-1 home victory against Rennes at the Stade Velodrome.

New signing Joey Barton could not play as he continues to serve a 12-game ban handed down for incidents while at Queens Park Rangers at the end of last season, but the Englishman looked impressed as he watched Andre-Pierre Gignac’s magnificent 84th-minute volley fly past Rennes ‘keeper Benoit Costil to put the home side 2-1 up.

Before that, OM appeared in danger of dropping their first points of the season after Julien Feret thumped a volley high past Steve Mandanda from close range in the 57th minute to cancel out full-back Jeremy Morel’s first Ligue 1 goal for Marseille, which arrived before the interval.

Loic Remy came off the bench and missed two glorious chances to add to Marseille’s lead before Rennes captain Romain Danze turned a cross into his own net in stoppage time to seal the points for the home side.

Marseille are two points clear of Lyon at the summit thanks to their best start to a season since they returned to the top flight from a sojourn in the second division in 1996, and their miserable end to last season is now but a distant memory.

“It was a goal of great class,” said Marseille coach Elie Baup of Gignac’s crucial strike.

“But the team as a whole pushed for the win. I could feel that the players were not willing to accept a 1-1 draw.

“I have lots of confidence in the players who are in the dressing room, a group of players who have shown a desire to surpass themselves and to succeed.

“It’s great to see their enthusiasm and the pleasure they take from playing the game.”

Earlier on Sunday, Bordeaux continued their unbeaten start but had to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw with Nice at the Stade Chaban-Delmas.

Three days after a dramatic win against Red Star Belgrade that took Les Girondins into the Europa League group stage, Francis Gillot’s side were lacking in inspiration against their visitors from the south coast.

After Bordeaux were reduced to 10 men when Lamine Sane was sent off just after the hour mark, the match appeared all set to end goalless until substitute Henri Saivet struck for the hosts with four minutes remaining.

But Nice levelled two minutes into injury time thanks to a cute lob from Mahamane Traore.

Nice are still looking for their first win under new coach Claude Puel.

Later on Sunday, winless Paris Saint-Germain head to Lille for the game of the weekend at the northern club’s new Grand Stade.

On Saturday, Lyon had to come from behind to beat Valenciennes 3-2 in their first game since the departure of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to Tottenham Hotspur.

Champions Montpellier won for the first time this season, 3-1 at bottom side Sochaux, while Ludovic Giuly scored his first Ligue 1 goal since February last year in Lorient’s 3-0 home win against Nancy.

There were also wins on Saturday for Saint-Etienne, Brest and Ajaccio, while Toulouse and Reims drew 1-1.