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* Gignac and Remy could be doubtful for United game

* Lucho Gonzalez and Remy goals seal victory

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By Mark Meadows

PARIS, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Olympique Marseille beat St Etienne 2-1 on Saturday but their preparations for the midweek Champions League clash with Manchester United were hit by injuries to forwards Andre-Pierre Gignac and Loic Remy.

The win sent Didier Deschamps’s side up to second in Ligue 1, three points behind leaders Lille who visit Montpellier on Sunday (1600 GMT).

Lucho Gonzalez finally broke the deadlock for the frustrated champions on 68 minutes when he slotted in Gignac’s pull back and Remy netted the second 10 minutes later from close range.

Christophe Landrin grabbed a goal back for Les Verts in stoppage time.

France striker Gignac, who scored twice in last weekend’s 2-1 win at Sochaux, hobbled off on 74 minutes and the grimace on his face suggested he could be doubtful for Wednesday’s last-16 first leg at home to United.

Remy followed him down the tunnel with what appeared to be an ankle knock soon after scoring his goal.

A third forward, Brandao, was substituted midway through the second half and media reports said he may also be injured.

St Etienne, beaten 4-1 by Olympique Lyon last weekend, had started the brighter at the Stade Velodrome with Gabriel Heinze almost scoring an own goal before the visitors had the ball in the net on 13 minutes only to be thwarted by the offside flag.

Marseille then had two shots cleared off the line straight after each other before finding the breakthrough.

MONACO LOSE

Lyon, who take on Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, are third in the table after defeating AS Nancy 4-0 on Friday but could be overtaken on Sunday when Stade Rennes and Paris St Germain travel to Toulouse and Nice respectively.

Monaco’s hopes of a revival after last Saturday’s win over FC Lorient proved shortlived as they lost 2-0 at Stade Brest to remain third from bottom and in the relegation zone.

Racing Lens are a place below them after a 3-2 home defeat by Sochaux which featured a red card apiece.

Auxerre, in 16th position, and bottom side AC Arles-Avignon did nothing to ease their drop fears by sharing a 1-1 draw while Caen were held 2-2 at home by Valenciennes.

Girondins Bordeaux were playing at Lorient at 2000 GMT with the pressure still on coach Jean Tigana given the 2009 champions’s mid-table malaise.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: Before, clash, injured, Marseille, Reuters, United