Bordeaux, who had gone three league matches without a win, suggested their lean spell was over, four days after knocking out Greek side Olympiakos to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where they will face Olympique Lyon.
The team from the wine capital, who have a game in hand, top the standings on goal difference from surprise package Montpellier, 2-1 winners over Valenciennes.
Defender Taye Taiwo gave Marseille the points with a powerful angled shot eight minutes from time, dealing a severe blow to Lyon's title chances, with the seven-times champions now five points off the pace in sixth place.
Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc was not totally satisfied with his team's performance and called for improvement in their next games, starting with next Saturday's French League Cup final against Olympique Marseille.
"We struggled for the first 20 minutes and allowed Lille to open the scoring with a defensive blunder," he said. "We didn't play great and we need to play better in our next matches."
