Ayew’s Marseille smash Toulouse in Ligue 1

Andre Ayew starred as Olympique Marseille demolished Toulouse 6-1 in Ligue 1 on Friday evening.

OM headed to the Stade Municipal looking to keep the pressure on league leaders Olympique Lyonnais and also overtake Paris Saint-Germain to move into the top two in France. They achieved both objectives with a stunning performance.

Their intent was evident from the off as Belgian-Congolese forward Michy Batshuayi fired Marcelo Bielsa’s outfit in front on two minutes. Defender Baptiste Aloe added a second from close range shortly afterwards and the fixture already appeared beyond Toulouse.

The hosts had their chances, but a Francois Moubandje own goal on 20 minutes and Batshuayi’s second before the break ended the match as a contest.

OM eased off a little in the second period and Franco-Tunisian striker Wissam Ben Yedder added a consolation for Toulouse on 77 minutes, before Marseille struck again.

This time it was Ayew’s turn to find the net. The Black Star bagged his sixth goal of the season a minute after Ben Yedder’s effort, firing low underneath Zacharie Boucher. That goal was Dede’s departing contribution to the match and he was replaced by Florian Thauvin on 81 minutes.

There was just time for Andre-Pierre Gignac, who replaced Batshuayi just after the hour mark, to score and become the most prolific active player in Ligue 1.

Ayew, who was also booked during the match, was recently named Marseille’s Player of the Month for February, although his future at the Stade Velodrome is unclear.

The Ghanaian is yet to sign a new contract at OM, with his current deal due to end in the summer. His father, the legendary Black Star and Marseille icon Abedi Pele, has admitted that his son will consider all options open to him at the end of the season before making his final decision.