Struggling Marseille secured a vital three points on Sunday as they

thrashed Mediterranean rivals Bastia 4-1, while Rennes climbed up to

second in Ligue 1 after beating nine-man Nantes 2-0.

A turbulent first month of the season had left Marseille with just

three points from four matches and one place above the relegation zone

prior to kick-off at the Stade Velodrome. 

But the international break appeared to arrive at just the right time

for Michel’s side as a refreshed OM took a 16th-minute lead through

Benjamin Mendy before a second-period brace from Romain Alessandrini and

subsequent strike from Michy Batshuayi lifted the gloom.

“What did I like (about the performance)? Everything,” a beaming Michel said afterwards.

“The end product from my players made me very proud. When I see them

play like that I have to thank them because I think the team has the

resources required to play at this high level.”

“Bastia weren’t perhaps at the level we thought they would be tonight, but we played a fantastic match,” added the Spaniard. 

Brandao netted a consolation effort against his former side as Bastia

slid to a second straight defeat, having started the campaign by taking

seven points from their first three matches.

The honeymoon period for Michel, whose side destroyed Troyes 6-0 on

his debut, did not last long as the Spaniard saw his men slide to a 2-0

defeat at Guingamp last time out.

However, a two-week break from domestic action and a chance for the

ex-Real Madrid winger to fully get to know his players seemingly proved

the ideal tonic for a team that slumped to three defeats in four August

outings.

A well-worked corner picked out Mendy who curled home a sumptuous strike from the edge of the box to put Marseille in front.

Alessandrini, Batshuayi and Remy Cabella had chances to double the

hosts’ advantage before half-time but Alessandrini made no mistake just

seconds after the resumption as he broke in behind the Corsican defence

and slammed the ball past Jesper Hansen.

Alessandrini calmly side-footed home his second of the evening on 66

minutes after Bastia failed to properly clear Javier Manquillo’s cross

before Batshuayi flicked home a fourth when he converted Mendy’s low

cross four minutes later.

Julian Palmieri picked out ex-Marseille striker Brandao as the

Brazilian sent a thumping header beyond a helpless Steve Mandanda 12

minutes from time, the only blot on an otherwise encouraging Marseille

performance.

Earlier, Rennes closed to within one point of leaders Paris

Saint-Germain after beating Brittany rivals Nantes 2-0 to make it four

wins on the trot for Philippe Montanier’s men.

Paul-Georges Ntep marked his first start of the season by scoring the

opening goal on 67 minutes with Nantes reduced to 10 men by that stage

after Adryan was harshly dismissed for a challenge of Edson Mexer. 

Things got worse for the home side with Kolbeinn Sigthorsson also

sent off before Giovanni Sio wrapped up the points a minute from time. 

Rennes, off to their best start since the 1950-51 season, could go

top next Friday with a victory at home to Lille as PSG are not in action

until Saturday, when the reigning champions make the short trip to

Reims. 

Monaco began life after Anthony Martial by picking up just their

second win of the campaign with a 1-0 victory over bottom side Gazelec

Ajaccio courtesy of Fabinho’s first-half penalty.