Marseille took over at the top of Ligue 1 after a comfortable 3-0 success over Sochaux at Stade Velodrome.
Heinze, Ben Arfa and Kone goals see off Sochaux
Marseille took over at the top of Ligue 1 after a comfortable 3-0 success over Sochaux at Stade Velodrome.
Former Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze provided OM with an early lead and Hatem Ben Arfa doubled the advantage just before the half-hour mark.
The Coupe de la Ligue winners then completed the scoring in second-half stoppage-time when substitute Bakari Kone netted.
Sochaux rarely troubled their hosts and they struggled from the first whistle, with Brandao heading just wide of goal for the hosts after good work by Ben Arfa in the third minute.
And the opening goal was not long in coming as Lucho Gonzalez's ninth minute corner found Heinze unmarked, and the Argentina defender powerfully headed home.
Ben Arfa then extended the lead as Yassine Mikari brought down Laurent Bonnart in the box. Mathieu Dreyer got a hand to the France international's penalty but could not keep it out of the net.
Sochaux did force Steve Mandanda into a rare save after the break as the goalkeeper kept out Boukary Dram's shot from distance.
And Edouard Butin's shot then hit the crossbar after an excellent pass from Dram had found him in space, his effort deflecting off Heinze before cannoning away off the woodwork.
Brandao was then off target with yet another header but the victory was sealed in injury-time as Kone raced in on goal and kept his composure to curl a right-footed shot beyond the advancing Dreyer.
