Dimitri Payet scored a debut double on either side of an André-Pierre Gignac strike to hand Marseille a 3-1 win in Guingamp on Sunday. A great start for OM and a cold welcome for Guingamp on their return to Ligue 1.
Marseille may have mixed results during their pre-season preparations, but on Sunday night Elie Baup's men did something they managed only four times in all competitions last season - scoring three goals - as they cruised to a 3-1 opening-day win in Guingamp.
What's more, they did it in the space of the first 16 minutes as Guingamp - possibly suffering a case of stage fright on their return to the top flight after a nine-year absence - watched on.
After just two minutes, OM's top scorer last season André-Pierre Gignac had already found the back of the net, tapping home after André Ayew's shot had been parried into his path (2'). Then star signing Dimitri Payet, on debut after his summer move from Lille, also made the most of Ayew's good work by beating Mamadou Samassa for his maiden OM strike just two minutes later (4').
A stunned Stade du Roudourou fell silent as their joy at returning to the big time was tempered by the prospect of a hiding, but things got worse for Jocelyn Gourvennec's men as Payet once again made the most of some static defending to turn home France teammate Mathieu Valbuena's blocked shot from close range (16').
However, in the second half, Guingamp regrouped and rediscovered the kind of play that saw them beat Rennes to the Coupe de France in 2009. Much more solid at the back, the Brittany side began to push forward and cause OM problems, notably through midfielder Younousse Sankharé and last season's Ligue 2 top scorer Mustapha Yatabaré.
Yatabaré had a chance to get his side into the match when Guingamp were awarded a penalty for Souleymane Diawara's irregular tackle on Steeven Langil, but he couldn't find a way past an imperious Steve Mandanda, who guessed correctly and turned the spot-kick aside (52').
The Mali international did end up redeeming himself, racing onto the ball and slamming home from close range after a grave error from Nicolas Nkoulou in the area (74'), but it was far from enough to get the promoted side back within reach of a result.
Nonetheless, Gourvennec will have some positives to take the from the match - notably his side's finding the resources to bounce back after such a catastrophic start - as his side travel to Saint-Etienne next weekend, while OM boss Baup will be hoping for more of the same when his side host Evian in Week 2.
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