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 Table
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Saint-Germain | 34 | 24 | 4 | 6 | +45 | 76 |
| Lens | 34 | 22 | 4 | 8 | +31 | 70 |
| Lille | 34 | 18 | 7 | 9 | +15 | 61 |
| Lyon | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | +13 | 60 |
| Marseille | 34 | 18 | 5 | 11 | +18 | 59 |
| Stade Rennais | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | +9 | 59 |
| AS Monaco | 34 | 16 | 6 | 12 | +6 | 54 |
| Strasbourg | 34 | 15 | 8 | 11 | +11 | 53 |
| Lorient | 34 | 11 | 12 | 11 | -3 | 45 |
| Toulouse | 33 | 12 | 8 | 13 | +1 | 44 |
| Paris FC | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | -3 | 44 |
| Brest | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | -12 | 39 |
| Angers | 34 | 9 | 9 | 16 | -19 | 36 |
| Le Havre AC | 34 | 7 | 14 | 13 | -12 | 35 |
| AJ Auxerre | 34 | 8 | 10 | 16 | -10 | 34 |
| Nice | 34 | 7 | 11 | 16 | -23 | 32 |
| Nantes | 33 | 5 | 8 | 20 | -23 | 23 |
| Metz | 34 | 3 | 8 | 23 | -44 | 17 |
Ligue 1 News