Marseille secured a vital home victory over Auxerre thanks to a late strike from Amine Gouiri.
Marseille edged past Auxerre with a narrow 1-0 win at the Orange Vélodrome on March 13, 2026. Substitute Amine Gouiri delivered the decisive blow in the 79th minute, securing crucial Ligue 1 points for the hosts.
This tense fixture pitted third-placed Marseille, looking to solidify their Champions League qualification hopes, against 16th-placed Auxerre, battling hard against relegation. Marseille’s recent form had been mixed, while Auxerre sought to build on a series of draws.
The first half was a cautious affair, dominated by tactical battles in midfield. Both teams struggled to create significant scoring opportunities in the opening exchanges.
Marseille received two early bookings. Facundo Medina picked up a yellow card in the 22nd minute for tripping. Conrad Jaden Egan-Riley also entered the referee's book in the 37th minute for a similar foul.
Auxerre's B. Okoh was cautioned for tripping just before the break, in the 45th minute. The half ended without either side breaking the deadlock, leaving fans eager for more attacking play.
The scoreless first half meant both managers had to reassess their strategies. Marseille needed to find a way to unlock Auxerre's disciplined defense. Auxerre aimed to maintain their shape and exploit any counter-attacking chances.
The second half saw Marseille intensify their pressure. Managerial changes quickly followed, injecting fresh impetus into the home side's attack.
Amine Gouiri was introduced for Conrad Jaden Egan-Riley in the 62nd minute, a move that would prove pivotal. Geoffrey Kondogbia was also replaced by Emerson in the 63rd minute as Marseille pushed for a winner.
Auxerre responded with substitutions of their own, bringing on S. Mara and Lamine Sy in the 67th minute, followed by J. Casimir in the 75th minute. They hoped to stem the tide and find an equalizer.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 79th minute. Amine Gouiri, just minutes after coming on, found the back of the net to give Marseille a hard-earned lead. His goal sparked joyous celebrations across the Orange Vélodrome.
The closing stages were marked by increased tension and more yellow cards. I. Paixao was booked in the 78th minute, followed by Quinten Timber in the 90+1st minute. Auxerre's S. Diomande also received a caution in the 90+4th minute as they desperately searched for a late goal.
Marseille dominated possession with 58% and registered 16 total shots, with 3 on target. Auxerre managed 8 shots, also with 3 on target, despite their 42% possession. Marseille's expected goals (xG) stood at 0.88, reflecting their offensive efforts, while Auxerre's 0.31 showed their struggle to create clear-cut opportunities.
This hard-fought 1-0 victory further cemented Marseille's strong position in the top tier of Ligue 1. For Auxerre, the defeat means they remain mired in a challenging relegation battle, needing to find form quickly.
