PARIS: Marseille ended their four-game losing run in Ligue 1 as Amine Harit and Himad Abdelli scored in a 2-0 win at Troyes on Sunday.
Struggling Marseille began the weekend in the relegation zone after suffering five losses in a row in all competitions, but second-half goals lifted them to 13th place.
Coach Bruno Genesio had stressed the importance of stopping the club's downward spiral ahead of a demanding run of eight matches in 28 days, but Marseille's task was made harder by injury and suspension.
Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg suffered an injury during the international break, while captain Timothy Weah missed the match after being sent off in the loss to Paris Saint-Germain last month.
Harit steered in a cross from Emerson Palmieri shortly after half-time before Abdelli converted a late penalty as Marseille avoided matching their worst losing streak over the last 40 years.
Troyes had gone close to an equaliser just before Abdelli made the points safe for Marseille, but Renaud Ripart's stoppage-time volley crashed against the post.
"Even if we know we can do better and this wasn't our best match, we won this one and sometimes you have to be pragmatic," Genesio told reporters, adding Marseille must now build on the result against Olympiakos in the Europa League and Angers next week.
"We're going to need a positive run. You could see, particularly towards the end of the first half, that we were quite tense and a bit timid in our play. This type of victory can help restore our confidence."
Rennes moved up to third earlier in the day with a 4-1 win over Auxerre, while Nice came from behind to beat Strasbourg 2-1.
Monaco remain unbeaten but missed a chance to open up a larger lead at the top on Saturday as Toulouse came from two goals down to force a 2-2 draw.
Paris Saint-Germain were comfortable 3-1 winners against Le Mans before they look ahead to a tougher test away to Manchester City in the Champions League next week. Luis Enrique's side are three points behind Monaco in Ligue 1. --AFP
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