Olympique de Marseille 1-1 RC Strasbourg Alsace

THE MATCH

Strasbourg began the day in 15th, nine places and 18 points worse off than their hosts, but they clearly came to the Mediterranean coast ready to give Marseille a game. Ludovic Ajorque had an early chance cleared off the line by Leonardi Balerdi (14') before Mats Selz denied the Argentine centre-back from point-blank range at the other end (16'). Arkadiusz Milik dragged an effort wide of Sels' far post from the edge of the box midway through the half (27') but Ajorque then had a similar - indeed better - attempt soon after, his shot going closer from a tighter angle (32'). Ajorque did manage to force Sels' opposite number Steve Mandanda into a save minutes later, but it was a straightforward one from a rather tame header at the back post (36'). Sels then pulled off a stunning stop to deny Alvaro Gonzalez with a backwards header from a Dimitri Payet free-kick (41') and it was goalless at the break.

Marseille have final say

With more than 10 minutes gone in the second half and still no sign of a way through, Jorge Sampaoli sent attacker Luis Henrique into the fray for defender Yuto Nagatomo, while Pape Gueye provided fresh legs in midfield in place of Valentin Rongier (57'). Strasbourg were unbowed though, and Ajorque was only denied the opener when Kamara's heel took the sting out of his shot, allowing Mandanda to collect (65'). Milik might have done better when Pol Lirola found him in space in the visiting box, the Pole's header too weak to test Sels (70'). It was completely deserved, then, when Strasbourg took the lead, Mitrovic rising above Alvaro to meet Dimitri Liénard's corner and power home the opener (74'). Marseille piled on the pressure, though, and snatched a leveller four minutes from time when substitute Benedetto met Henrique's pass to steer home his fifth goal of the campaign (86').

THE PLAYER: Mets Selz

Mitrovic might grab more of the headlines, but this share of the spoils was underpinned by a fine performance by the Strasbourg goalkeeper. In the unfortunate position of being in the same age group as Thibault Courtois at international level, the 29-year-old Sels would surely have added to his 19 youth caps for Belgium if not for the Real Madrid man's presence.

THE STAT: 14

Marseille remain undefeated in their last 14 games at home to Strasbourg in all competitions. The last time le Recing got the better of les Phocéens at their Orange Vélodrome was all the way back in March 1997 when Pascal Nouma, later of Marseille, scored in a 1-0 win.