The former Arsenal striker's bundled finish in the 37th minute encapsulated the quality of the contest as a whole as he and several other players scrapped on the ground to try and find the net, which he eventually did.

Lacazette almost scored a second in the same fashion five minutes later, scrambling again on the floor like an Aussie rules player to try and score, but this time his effort hit the post.

Lyon was almost caught cold from the kick-off when Amine Harit fired at goal, the ball landing on the bar with Anthony Lopes back-pedalling to try and make a save.

It was a lucky escape for the home side, but it rarely looked troubled thereafter, taking the game to Marseille and clearly looking the better side for large chunks of the contest.

But clear-cut chances were hard to manufacture for both sides, and Lyon was almost made to pay 12 minutes from time when Marseille constructed its best opportunity of the game.

Another former Arsenal man, this time Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, played a superb one-two inside the Lyon box and lifted an attempt over Lopes towards the goal. But yet another ex-Gunner was on hand to clear it off the line,  Ainsley Maitland-Niles somehow getting back to hack it away and preserve Lyon's lead.

Lyon celebrated hard at the final whistle, and with no visiting Marseille fans allowed as a result of poor behaviour that let to the postponement of the corresponding fixture, there was nothing to compete with its cheers.