Marseille miss out

Marseille missed out on Europa League football despite beating Guingamp 1-0 on the final day of the Ligue 1 season.

Marseille missed out on Europa League football despite beating Guingamp 1-0 on the final day of the Ligue 1 season. L'OM, who have played European football every season since missing out in 2004-05, knew they had to win and hope fifth-placed Lyon would stumble at Nice. But with Remi Garde's side winning 1-0 themselves, it meant matters at the Stade Velodrome were largely redundant with Marseille guaranteed sixth place no matter what they did. Andre Ayew's eighth goal of the season was enough to ensure Marseille at least kept up their part of the bargain, but it could not disguise what has been a disappointing season. The hosts seized the initiative early on, no doubt knowing they could not rest on their laurels given Guingamp's improved form that had seen them win three out of their previous four games. Souleymane Diawara came close to a breakthrough in the 18th minute, but he was denied by a post after rising high to head goalwards from Florian Thauvin's corner. A minute later Marseille were dealt a huge blow when keeper Steve Mandanda had to go off after being hit in the head by Mustapha Yatabare's knee. He was replaced by 20-year-old debutant Brice Samba. L'OM continued to push forward, going close on numerous occasions, but their best chance fell to Benoit Cheyrou on the stroke of half time. Mamadou Samassa punched a shot from Ayew into Cheyrou's path 20 yards from goal, but the 33-year-old saw his venomous long-range strike hit a post. Six minutes after the restart Ayew got the goal Marseille deserved, heading home after good work from Mathieu Valbuena, who skipped past two men before sending an inch-perfect cross into the box. Guingamp's first real chance of note came on the hour mark, but Claudio Beauvue's header was cleared off the line by Jeremy Morel with Samba beaten. Ayew almost bagged a second in the closing stages, but his powerful unmarked header was saved brilliantly by Samassa.