PARIS: Joey Barton was at the centre of both goals as Marseille bounced back from their crushing midweek defeat to Lyon by meting out a 2-1 win to Brest on Sunday.
Elie Baup's men, swept aside 4-1 by Lyon on Wednesday, were back in business inflicting a first home loss of the season on Brest to move up two places into second on 29 points, two behind their midweek tormentors.
Souleymane Diawara put Marseille into a 34th minute lead.
Set up by Barton, the Senegal defender, largely absent in Wednesday's game, broke the deadlock when firing the ball under the crossbar from the edge of the box.
Brest were back on level terms three minutes from the break, with close season signing Dutch striker Charlison Benschop wrong footing Marseille keeper Steve Mandanda off a corner.
The second half was 11 minutes old when Marseille regained the advantage.
Once again, Barton was key. The English midfielder picking up Mathieu Valbuena's cross to feed Andre Ayew who poked the ball home past Brest keeper Alexis Thebaux.
Marseille, who dominated most of the game, deservedly held on for a welcome three points.
This was a bright ending to an uncomfortable week for Marseille, some of whose fans were critical of club president Vincent Labrune for openly laughing during their team's defeat to Lyon on images shown on French television.
Troyes host Rennes and Toulouse are at Lorient in sunday's two late games.
On Saturday, Lyon underlined their title credentials as they beat defending champions Montpellier 1-0, while chasing Paris Saint-Germain slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Nice.
- AFP/fa
Footbal: Barton stars as Marseille beat Brest
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Footbal: Barton stars as Marseille beat Brest
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Footbal: Barton stars as Marseille beat Brest
