Olympique Marseille Soccer News

Djibril Cisse is confident his broken leg has fully healed. The Marseille forward set up the second-half winner Saturday for Mamadou Niang as Marseille's 2-1 home win over Monaco moved it into fifth place. ``It went very well. I'm very happy, and very satisfied,'' Cisse said. It was Cisse's first competitive match since he was injured June 7 in a friendly against China _ ruling him out of France's World Cup squad and 16 league games this season. ``I tried ...

Marseille striker Djibril Cisse is fit to return to competitive play six months after breaking his leg. The France international, who broke his leg for the second time in two years in a friendly against China a week before the World Cup, was given the go-ahead from his doctor Thursday. ``After a six-month absence, I am finally going to be able to return to the field in the French league,'' ...

Juninho scored two goals Sunday to help Lyon extend its winning streak to 11 matches in all competitions with a 4-1 victory at Marseille in the French league. Substitute Karim Benzema and Kim Kallstrom also scored for Lyon, which leads the league with 28 points _ eight more than second-place Marseille. Habib Bamogo scored a consolation goal for the hosts. Juninho curled in a free kick from 20 yards in ...

Marseille has a chance to close to within two points of Lyon at the top of the French league on Sunday. It'll have to win against Lyon to do it and the record five-time defending champion is on a 10-match winning streak. Marseille hasn't won the league since 1993 _ it was stripped of that title because of its involvement in a match-fixing scandal _ and midfielder Modeste M'Bami says ...

Marseille conceded a late penalty in a 1-1 tie against a short-handed Lens squad Sunday, leaving five-time defending champion Lyon five points atop the French First Division standings. Mamadou Niang gave Marseille the lead in the 63rd when he converted a penalty after rounding goalkeeper Charles Itandje but being taken down hard by Gregory Vignal. Vignal was sent off for the foul, requiring Lens to rally with a man disadvantage. ...

Veteran French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez is retiring from competitive soccer. ``I am starting a new life,'' he said Thursday. ``I will continue to enjoy myself ... but without soccer.'' Barthez is not attached to a club and has not played since July 9, when France lost to Italy in the World Cup final. The former Manchester United goalkeeper quit Marseille prior to the World Cup. Regarded as a superb shot-stopper ...

Taye Taiwo, Habib Bamogo and Lorik Cana had the goals to lead Marseille over visiting Toulouse 3-0 in French First Division soccer action Sunday. With the win, Marseille moved to within three points for first-place Lyon in the overall standings. Marseille rallied following successive losses _ including a midweek UEFA Cup exit _ and has 19 points from eight rounds. Lyon, which is looking to extend its French record to six straight titles, has 22 points. Taiwo and Bamogo ...

Nantes gave George Eo a winning debut as manager, beating Marseille 2-1 Sunday for its first victory of the season and leaving Lyon alone atop the French first division. Dimitri Payet and Guillaume Norbert scored for Nantes, which fired Serge Le Dizet as manager on Wednesday. Mamadou Niang scored for Marseille. The victory gave Nantes six points and move it into 15th place, while Marseille remained in second place with ...

Mickael Pagis scored a stunning goal and Nigeria defender Taye Taiwo added another to lead Marseille over Bordeaux 2-1 and join Lyon atop the French first division on Sunday. Marseille and five-time defending champion Lyon have 16 points from six rounds. Lyon has a better goal differential even though Marseille has conceded only two goals so far _ both of them penalties. Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh pulled a goal back ...

Marseille visits Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday in the unusual role of French league leader when the two teams' bitter rivalry is renewed. Marseille and Lyon have 10 points each after four rounds, but five-time defending champion Lyon is second on goal difference. Unbeaten Marseille has yet to concede a goal, while PSG has already lost twice and is tied for 12th. But PSG coach Guy Lacombe knows what his team ...