MARSEILLE, France (Interstat) — In a stunning opening-weekend upset that defied statistical projections, Marseille rallied with two late goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to defeat Lyon 3-2 in a Ligue 1 thriller Sunday at Orange Vélodrome.

The match, played March 1, 2026, began disastrously for the home side as Lyon’s Corentin Tolisso silenced the crowd with a goal in just the third minute. Marseille struggled to break down Lyon’s structure for much of the first half, and the visitors carried their 1-0 lead into halftime.

The dynamic shifted after the break. Marseille’s Igor Paixão leveled the score in the 52nd minute, injecting new energy into the contest. The comeback appeared to be fully realized in the 76th minute when substitute Rémi Himbert, who had just entered the match, put Marseille ahead 2-1. Himbert’s decisive finish was assisted by fellow substitute Clinton Mata.

Lyon responded quickly, however, as veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted an equalizer for the visitors in the 81st minute, setting up a frantic final stretch. But Aubameyang was not finished. Deep into stoppage time, in the 90+1 minute, he struck again, this time for Marseille, completing a dramatic double and securing a 3-2 victory for the hosts. The winning goal was assisted by defender Nayef Aguerd.

The result was a significant reversal of pregame expectations. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Lyon entered with a 77.5 percent probability to win. The same outlet’s game simulator had projected a 1-1 draw.

The match was a physical affair, producing six yellow cards. Lyon’s Clinton Mata and Tyler Morton were booked in the 30th and 45+1 minutes, respectively. Marseille’s Geoffrey Kondogbia received a caution in the 74th minute, followed by teammate Nayef Aguerd in the 83rd. Lyon’s Himad Abdelli was shown a yellow card in the 90+8 minute as tensions flared at the final whistle.

With the victory, Marseille begins its Ligue 1 campaign with a win and no losses, while Lyon starts with a loss and no wins. The records are identical across all competitions for both clubs this season.

The key performances underscored the impact of Marseille’s bench. Substitute Rémi Himbert’s goal proved crucial, while fellow substitutes Clinton Mata and Tyler Morton each recorded an assist. Defender Nayef Aguerd’s late assist on the winner capped a match defined by strategic substitutions and late-game heroics.