Marseille secure convincing friendly win against Athletic Bilbao
Bruno Genesio's Marseille side claimed a 3-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao, marking their fourth win in five pre-season matches.
L'OM de Paixao a battu l'Athletic Bilbao en amical. (A. Pittore)
Marseille delivered a strong performance at the Velodrome this Sunday afternoon, securing a 3-1 victory against Athletic Bilbao. The result marks a fourth win in five pre-season outings for Bruno Genesio's squad.
The hosts focused on verticality and efficiency from the outset. Angel Gomes opened the scoring in the 10th minute following a high ball recovery by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Despite Athletic Bilbao showing composed possession play, they lacked the final cutting edge, and Marseille entered the break with a deserved lead.
Igor Paixao doubled the advantage in the 40th minute with a precise right-footed strike after an impressive individual run. The second half saw a dip in intensity due to frequent substitutions from both benches, but the home side maintained control.
Youngster Keyliane Abdallah added the final goal in the 86th minute after a skillful dribbling sequence. The 45,299 spectators in attendance saw off the Marseille team with applause at the final whistle.