Olympique de Marseille wins pre‑season friendly as French clubs gear up for new season

Olympique de Marseille defeated Qatari side Al‑Shahania 3‑0 in a pre‑season friendly, with goals from Igor Paixao (36'), Himad Abdelli (56') and Quinten Timber (77'). Coach Bruno Genesio used the match to test his squad ahead of upcoming high‑profile friendlies against Athletic Bilbao on August 9 and Atlético Madrid on August 14.

Meanwhile, Nîmes Olympique continued its preparation with a full‑strength training session, introducing trial midfielder Elysée Ntambu Mvaka from Saint‑Étienne’s reserves and welcoming back Gino Caoki after a five‑month injury lay‑off. Coach Helder Esteves emphasized intensity despite the heat. The club also faced a dispute with the city over access to the Antonins stadium after refusing to sign a new lease, prompting a virtual meeting to resolve the issue, with former director Reda Hammache observing the training session.