Marseille's post-Bielsa era starts with loss away at Reims
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Reims' team celebrates after Reims' Malian defender Hamari Traore scored a goal during the French L1 championship football match Stade de Reims vs Olympique de Marseilles on August 16, 2015 at the Auguste Delaune Stadium in Reims, northern France. AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE HUGUEN (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images)
PARIS --
Marseille's turbulent season took a turn for the worse with a 1-0 defeat away to Reims Sunday, after conceding an early goal and finishing the match with 10 men.
The notoriously volatile club was thrown into turmoil last weekend when coach Marcelo Bielsa resigned moments after the home defeat to Caen, despite pledging days earlier that he was about to sign a two-year contract.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Led by caretaker coach Franck Passi, a former Marseille defender, the visitors fell behind to a Mali defender Hamari Traore strike and then had midfielder Alaixys Romao sent off in the 73rd.
While Marseille has yet to score a point, Reims' win moved it provisionally top with six points alongside Normandy side Caen.
Later, defending champion Paris Saint-Germain faced newly-promoted Gazelec Ajaccio and Lorient played Bastia.