Marseille delivered a commanding performance against Lorient on Friday, securing a 4-0 victory at the Stade Vélodrome. The win propels Marseille into the top four of Ligue 1. Lorient, struggling to find their footing this season, played the majority of the match with ten men after an early red card, further compounding their woes.

Lorient's game plan was disrupted early in the match when Darlin Yongwa received a straight red card in the 12th minute for a foul on Michael Amir Murillo in the penalty box. Mason Greenwood calmly converted the penalty, giving Marseille an early lead and setting the stage for their dominance.

Benjamin Pavard, making his debut for Marseille after his loan from Inter Milan, doubled the lead in the 20th minute, heading home from a Greenwood corner. The French World Cup winner's debut goal further solidified Marseille's control of the match.

Angel Gomes extended Marseille's advantage just after the half-hour mark with a stunning volley from the edge of the area. A corner was only partially cleared, and Gomes unleashed a powerful shot past Lorient's goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo, making it 3-0.

Lorient's misery nearly deepened before halftime when Bamo Meite, on loan from Marseille, made a clumsy challenge on Amine Gouiri. A VAR review initially pointed to a penalty, but an offside in the build-up provided Lorient with a reprieve, though Gouiri was stretchered off due to the foul.

Marseille continued to control the game in the second half, although with less intensity due to their comfortable lead. Greenwood had a couple of opportunities to add to his tally, but Mvogo made an outstanding save to deny his header, and another shot went just over the bar. In the dying moments of the match, Nayef Aguerd, also making his debut for Marseille, scored the fourth goal with a shot from distance that took a significant deflection before finding the net.

The 4-0 victory was a welcome result for Marseille, especially as they prepare for a challenging Champions League trip to Real Madrid. For Lorient, this defeat compounds their recent struggles, following a 7-1 thrashing by Lille. This latest loss leaves them precariously positioned near the bottom of the Ligue 1 table. Marseille, on the other hand, have maintained a perfect home record.

Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance and praised the club's efforts in the transfer window. He highlighted the strength of the squad and the quality of the new additions, while also noting that this match felt like the first of the season due to the number of players playing together for the first time. The win marks Marseille's second in four Ligue 1 matches this season.