Marseille quest to reach the Champions League next season boosted by Andre-Pierre Gignac's late winner as they saw off a resilient Lorient at the Stade Velodrome on Saturday.
L'OM looked to start the game with adventure, but it was the visitors who went closest to scoring the opening exchanges with Yann Jouffre's ambitious shot from 35 yards out forcing an early save from Steve Mandanda.
Marseille were tested in an open first half and may consider themselves lucky not to have fallen behind when first Jeremie Aliadiere and then Vincent Aboubakar went close to scoring.
The hosts tried to assert themselves on proceedings with midfielder Mathieu Valbuena twice testing the Fabien Audard after the break.
Gignac also had two opportunities to score midway through the second half, but was denied by Audard as L'OM struggled for a breakthough.
However, they finally breached the Lorient defence when Gignac tucked the ball beyond the visitors keeper.
The goal was enough to give Marseille victory and pull them to within two points of third-placed Lille, although the Northern club have a game in hand.
