Having seen their 13-game winning streak come to an end last time out against RC Strasbourg, Paulo Fonseca’s side travelled to Marseille determined to bounce back.
Lyon needed only three minutes at the Stade Vélodrome to do just that, as Endrick’s cushioned pass on the edge of the box was clinically swept into the net by Corentin Tolisso for the Frenchman’s third goal in as many matches.
The hosts recovered well from that early setback, though, with Mason Greenwood seeing a pair of efforts smartly saved by Dominik Greif, while at the other end, Endrick lifted a strike narrowly over the bar after a superb solo run.
Chances continued to flow as the first half progressed, but Geronimo Rulli stood firm in the Marseille goal to thwart Roman Yaremchuk when the Ukrainian failed to convert a glorious one-on-one opportunity.
Determined to see an improved second-half display from his side, Habib Beye introduced Igor Paixao at the interval, and the Brazilian made an immediate impact, cutting in from the left flank and curling a spectacular long-range strike into the top corner.
Armed with the momentum that goal created, Marseille went in pursuit of a quickfire second, as Greenwood and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both missed the target when well-placed in the box.
Les Phocéens’ profligacy in front of goal proved to be costly in the 76th minute when substitute Remi Himbert tucked a brilliant low finish across Rulli and into the far corner to restore Lyon’s lead heading into the final quarter-hour.
However, the visitors’ joy was ultimately short-lived, as Paixao’s cross was converted by Aubameyang just five minutes later to set up a grandstand finale.
Both sides committed numbers forward in pursuit of a late winner, and it was Marseille who found the all-important moment of quality in stoppage time when Aubameyang tapped home from Ethan Nwaneri’s cut-back to send the home support into raptures.
Stunned by the Gabonese’s late brace, Lyon were unable to respond in the closing stages as the hosts ended their four-game winless league run in the most dramatic of circumstances to move within two points of Fonseca’s men in the table.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Igor Paixao (Marseille)