PARIS (AP) — After missing a penalty midweek, Alexis Sanchez made amends on Saturday to cap Marseille's 2-0 win at Auxerre with his third goal in five French league matches.
Sanchez, who joined Marseille from Inter Milan last month on a free transfer, came off the bench near the hour mark and sealed Marseille's fifth league win in the 83rd minute with a low shot from Matteo Gendouzi's back pass.
Undefeated, Marseille has 16 of a possible 18 points and will travel to Tottenham next week for the start of its Champions League campaign brimming with confidence.
Every time Marseille has managed to remain unbeaten in its six opening matches in the 21st century, it has finished the season in the top three.
Marseille coach Igor Tudor rotated his players ahead of the big game in London and made seven changes, with Sanchez among those left on the bench after he missed from the spot in the 1-0 win against Clermont.
It took only eight minutes for the Marseille visitors to find the net when Gerson scored from the rebound after Cengiz Under dribbled past an Auxerre player in the box and hit the post.
Auxerre, which returned to the top flight after an 11-year absence, was under pressure throughout the first half as Marseille dominated possession in an efficient 3-4-3 system. The hosts played better in the second half but could muster only half-chances.
TOKO-EKAMBI SCORES TWICE
Karl Toko-Ekambi continued his good run of form by scoring twice in Lyon's 5-0 thrashing of struggling Angers.
After being decisive midweek with the winner against Auxerre, Toko Ekambi put the hosts in front against his former team in the 31st minute and scored again near the hour mark.
Alexandre Lacazette, Castello Lukeba, and Moussa Dembele were also on the scoresheet for third-placed Lyon.
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