Ajorque brace downs Marseille in Habib Beye's first outing

Habib Beye's start to life as Marseille manager started in far from ideal circumstances in a first half which saw OM dominate the ball, but Brest fought with intensity and efficiency and raced into a two-goal lead thanks to an early brace from Ludovic Ajorque. The Réunion striker took advantage of a dangerous cross from Magnetti which changed trajectory, and managed to get in front of Nayef Aguerd to nod past Rulli and put Les Pirates in front early on (10').

Ajorque got plenty of chances to double the lead, a strike just whistling over the bar. Les Marseillais had some half-chances generated through Igor Paixao - but it was Ajorque that struck again to put SB29 two goals up before half-time. This time it was another cross from Hugo Magnetti, and Ajorque once again got the wrong side of Aguerd with a superb header that Rulli had little chance to get a hand on (29'). With that goal from Ajorque, OM became the side that had conceded the most goals since the turn of the year with 16 conceded. OM offered little up front, but Brest did everything right to take advantage. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would be brought on by Beye during the break, and Marseille temporarily looked to be on the front foot. Yet Brest defended doggedly, and deep into the second period Nwaneri and Hamad Junior Troaré were brought on, leaving Aubameyang up front.

Mason Greenwood would give OM a chance to get back into the game after earning a penalty after Guido brought the Englishman down into the box. Yet Greenwood's run-up to his penalty was drained of confidence, and his strike to Coudert's right was easily read and fantastically saved by the Brest keeper. Greenwood would go close again as OM pushed in the latter stages, yet it would be too little too late as Les Olympiens fell to a first defeat in the Habib Beye era. For Brest it was a first win in five, and put Les Pirates in the position to move into the top half of the table. Marseille have now failed to win any of their last 5 matches when conceding first in the Ligue 1 McDonald's, since a victory over Le Havre on 18th October 2025.

THE STAT:

Ludovic Ajorque is the first Stade Brestois player to have scored a brace against Olympique de Marseille in an official match since Roberto Cabanas in 1990.