For their final pre-season friendly, in the conditions of a L1 away match, OM were victorious, 2-0, against Lens.

Didier Deschamps made some slight modifications to his side for this final pre-season friendly match. The OM coach had to deal with the absence of a number of players (Bonnart and Lucho, notably). Charles Kaboré came in for the former Le Mans player while new recruit Fabrice Abriel replaced the injured Argentine midfielder.
The first chances of the game fell to the locals and, as against Saint-Etienne, i twas OM’s opponents who dominated the opening exchanges with Eduardo coming close but being unable to hit the target with his headed effort. OM’s first real chance came from a free-kick given for a foul on Niang, positioned right in the centre of the park just 20 metres out, Abriel’s effort was easily picked up by Runje. Despite the efforts of both sides, approximations and technical errors stopped any flowing football. Neither side were able to find a way past their opponents. Taiwo tried his luck from long-range, in vain. Without any shadow of a doubt, the effects of pre-season trainig and the friendly match on Wednesday in Valence were making themselves felt. However, little by little, Marseille took control of the match and Lens, in a 4-4-2 formation, were forced to play on the counter. Unfortunately this territorial domination did not bring about any on target efforts.

The second half started off in the same way as thefirst one had finished, but OM’s domination immediately paid off. In the 47th minute, Abriel crossed to the back post where Brandao headed home from point blank range, leaving Runje no chance at all. With this lead on the scoreboard OM started playing more freely. Chances were racked up by Niang and his team-mates but Lens would not lie down and admit defeat.
The final blow did however come around just 15 minutes from the end of the game, from one of OM’s newestrecruits. A Cheyrou free-kick hit the post of Runje, but Mbia, well positioned and opportunistic, controled the ball and fired it home. Marseille doubled their lead and put themselves out of reach of the team from the north.
Didier Deschamps took advantage of this to make some changes. Apart from Mbia, who came on at half time and Ben Arfa, just minutes before the second goal, Valbuena also came on, so that the coach could try some more tests.

With four victories, one draw and one defeat during their pre-seaready to start their season in the best possible conditions.