Stade Brestois inflicted a first defeat upon Olympique de Marseille under new manager Habib Beye, winning 2-0 on Friday evening in Brest. A brace from Ludovic Ajorque, scoring in the 10th and 30th minutes, sealed the victory for Brest and deepened the crisis surrounding the historically prominent club.
The match, played under rainy conditions in Brittany, saw Marseille struggle to contain Brest’s attacking intensity. Ajorque opened the scoring early, capitalizing on a cross from Hugo Magnetti and heading past goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli according to Ligue1.com. He doubled the lead before halftime, again connecting with a Magnetti cross and overpowering the Marseille defense.
Marseille’s defense, featuring Benjamin Pavard and Nayef Aguerd, proved particularly vulnerable, struggling to contain Brest’s forward line. The team’s offensive efforts were similarly muted, failing to seriously test Brest goalkeeper Grégoire Coudert, who made four saves during the match.
The second half saw Marseille attempt to mount a comeback, with manager Beye introducing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at halftime. However, Brest’s defense remained resolute. Marseille’s hopes were further dashed when Mason Greenwood’s 83rd-minute penalty was expertly saved by Coudert. Greenwood had another opportunity late in the game, but failed to convert. Ligue1.com reported that the penalty miss effectively ended Marseille’s chances of salvaging a result.
The defeat marks Marseille’s fourth consecutive Ligue 1 match without a win and leaves them in fourth place in the league table, five points behind Lyon. Brest, meanwhile, provisionally climbed to 11th place. Habib Beye, appointed earlier this week, acknowledged the negative impact on his players, stating that “the negative dynamic has reached the players” as reported by Secure Football News France.
The loss too highlighted Marseille’s struggles in front of goal, having now conceded 16 goals since the turn of the year – the most in the league. The team’s performance raises serious questions about their ability to challenge for a Champions League spot, and the pressure is mounting on Beye to quickly turn the situation around.
