Ayew brace lifts Marseille

Andre Ayew's two goals fired former European champions Marseille into the Europa League playoffs on Thursday in France. Against Eskisehirspor, Andre's strikes ensured a 4-1 aggregate win after being held to a 1-1 draw in Turkey.

He opened the scoring after seven minutes with a header, with Andre-Pierre Gignac doubling the lead in the 36th minute. Ayew finished Marseille's job after the hour mark.


Winners of the playoff round, to be played August 23 and 30, will qualify for the group stage. Marseille advance to the next stage of the tournament ahead of the domestic opener against Reims on Sunday.


Ayew’s younger brother Jordan came on as a second-half substitute.

All is calm


Meanwhile, Marseille boss Elie Baup insists that there is no residual animosity from Andre Ayew and Mathieu Valbuena's altercation earlier this week, insisting that the pair have already put their training-ground dust-up behind them.


The duo had to be separated after France midfielder Valbuena reacted angrily to an aggressive challenge from his Ghanaian team-mates. There had been a suggestion that the dispute could destabilise the dressing room ahead of Thursday evening's Europa League clash, but Baup claims that the matter has already been forgotten.