PARIS : Jonathan Clauss shone as Olympique de Marseille started a marathon of games to top the Ligue 1 table with a convincing 3-0 win at Angers on Friday.
Playing the first of 11 games in 55 days, OM capitalized on the good performance of France full-back Clauss to prepare for a potentially crucial Champions League game against Sporting on Tuesday.
Clauss scored and set up Luis Suarez and Gerson for the others to take Marseille to 23 points from nine games, one ahead of Paris St Germain, who host Nice on Saturday.
Angers, who hit the woodwork early on through Nabil Bentaleb, remains in 14th place with eight points.
Clauss, who started on the left instead of the right flank for a change, gave the visitors the lead 10 minutes before half-time with a powerful left-footed shot after a slalom into the penalty area.
Suarez almost doubled the lead four minutes later with a header that went just wide as OM increased the pressure.
Clauss was back on the ball five minutes into the second half and set up Suarez perfectly so the Uruguayan fired past Yahia Fofana from close range.
Just before the hour mark, Clauss combined with Samuel Gigot before delivering the ball to Gerson, who controlled cool and defeated Fofana.