Algeria attacker Amine Gouiri scored twice in 20 minutes as Marseille beat Strasbourg 4-0 on Friday in the first game of the French Ligue 1 season.
Gouiri netted a minute into the second half before claiming his second from the spot kick after the visitors had Samir El Mourabet sent off for violent conduct.
Replacement Keyliane Abdallah and midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg made sure of the three points for Bruno Genesio's side late on to extend Marseille's unbeaten league run over Strasbourg stretching back to 1997.
MARSEILLE WITH A MASSIVE WIN TO KICK OFF THE SEASON ⚪️🔵 pic.twitter.com/IWUE9QUHnN
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) August 21, 2026
"It's a joy," Gouiri told Ligue 1+. "We really wanted to start well in front of our supporters and it's job done."
Genesio has yet to make any major signings this summer with barely two weeks left of the transfer window.
"We have to drop our salary spend," Genesio told Ligue 1+. "Until that's done, we won't be able to recruit."
Gouiri, who joined from Rennes in January 2025, opened the scoring with a low, first-time finish just after the break, having netted once for Les Fennecs during four games at this year's World Cup.
Just before the hour mark, Morocco's El Mourabet was sent for a cold shower for kicking Hojbjerg.
Gouiri then doubled the lead with a penalty before 20-year-old Abdallah and Denmark's Hojbjerg got on the scoresheet.
AMINE GOUIRI. ❤️🔥🇩🇿 pic.twitter.com/drAQRS3Kod
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) August 21, 2026
On Saturday, last season's runners-up Lens welcome Auxerre and newly-promoted Le Mans, backed by a consortium including Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and tennis star Novak Djokovic, host Brest in their first top-flight game since 2010.
The other highlight is Troyes, Ligue 2 champions, playing Paris FC in Liam Rosenior's first league game in charge of the side from the capital city.
Champions Paris Saint-Germain begin their tilt at a record-extending 14th French top-flight title at Rennes in the pick of Sunday's matches.