Nantes keep survival hopes alive as Marseille collapse at La Beaujoire

Olympique de Marseille’s miserable run away from home continued on Saturday afternoon as they suffered a crushing 3-0 defeat against relegation-threatened FC Nantes at La Beaujoire.

In a result that reignites Nantes’ hopes of survival and further deepens OM’s crisis, second-half goals from Ignatius Ganago, Rémy Cabella and Matthis Abline condemned Habib Beye’s side to another damaging defeat in the race for European qualification.

Marseille arrived in Nantes needing a response after a difficult run of form, but instead delivered one of their most alarming performances of the season. While the first half ended goalless, Nantes had already looked the more threatening side and were repeatedly denied by Jeffrey de Lange, deputising for the injured Gerónimo Rulli.

The Dutch goalkeeper produced outstanding saves to keep out Cabella and Meschack Elia Kaba during the opening period, while Marseille struggled badly in possession and offered little attacking cohesion. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had OM’s clearest first-half chance, but Patrik Carlgren reacted sharply to deny the Gabonese striker.

Marseille collapse after half-time as Nantes strike three times in eight minutes

Habib Beye attempted to change the momentum at the break by introducing Paixão and Lago, but Nantes struck almost immediately after the restart. Matthis Abline was the architect of the opener, bursting into space down the right before cutting the ball back for Ganago, who swept home first time to give the Canaries the lead in the 50th minute.

Four minutes later, Marseille’s afternoon unravelled completely. After a loose ball from Nnadi in midfield, Cabella combined brilliantly with Ganago before finishing calmly inside the box to double Nantes’ advantage.

The hosts then produced the goal of the game on 58 minutes. Abline picked up possession on the right flank, danced past three Marseille defenders with remarkable close control and finished confidently beyond De Lange to make it 3-0 and send La Beaujoire into celebration.

OM never looked capable of mounting a comeback. Mason Greenwood forced Carlgren into a handful of saves, while Amine Gouiri saw a late effort denied, but Marseille remained disjointed and passive throughout the second half.

The defeat leaves Marseille’s European ambitions under serious threat, with Beye’s side now vulnerable to being overtaken by their rivals in the race for continental qualification. Their away form remains a major concern, with OM having now won just once on the road since January.

For Nantes, however, the victory could prove season-defining. Vahid Halilhodžić’s side move to within two points of Auxerre in 16th place and keep their survival hopes alive heading into the final weeks of the campaign.

After weeks of pressure and growing pessimism around the club, this was finally an afternoon of belief for the Canaries — and one of complete humiliation for Marseille.

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