Marseille scored four first-half goals on their way to thrashing relegation-threatened Toulouse 6-1 and ending their four-game winless run in Ligue 1 this evening.

Baptiste Aloe and a Francois Moubandje own goal in between Michy Batshuayi strikes helped earn the title hopefuls a win which sends them second in the table. Toulouse registered a late consolation through Wissam Ben Yedder, only for Andre Ayew and Andre-Pierre Gignac to make the scoreline even more emphatic.

The hosts were two up inside six minutes as Batshuayi's 20-yard drive found the bottom corner and Aloe fired home from inside the box after Toulouse failed to clear a free kick.

Matters got worse for the visitors on 20 minutes when Moubandje diverted a set piece past his own goalkeeper, and Marseille continued to be rampant before the break.

Ayew twice came close to extending their lead and Marcelo Bielsa's side did get a fourth prior to the half-time whistle as Batshuayi converted a Lucas Ocampos cross.

Toulouse had previously had several attempts on goal of their own, with Aleksandar Pesic striking the post, but they failed to register an effort on target until the 77th minute.

Substitute Ben Yedder reduced the deficit with a tidy finish from Oscar Trejo's through-ball, only for Ayew to restore Marseille's four-goal advantage within 60 seconds.

Gignac got in on the act on 89 minutes, finding the bottom corner from a tight angle to ensure that Marseille stopped their slump in style and climbed to within one point of leaders Lyon at the top of the table.