Club-record releases Sunday, Vitinha scored his first two goals for Marseille as the southern club defeated struggling Troyes 3-1 to move into second place in the French division, one point ahead of Lens.
In the January transfer window, Marseille paid Braga 32 million euros ($34.8 million) for Vitinha, but the 23-year-old had not scored in eight previous appearances since joining.
Two minutes were required for him to put Marseille ahead against Lorient at the Stade Velodrome when he turned and fired a shot under the crossbar.
Cengiz Ünder made it 2-0 in the 41st minute after captain Valentin Rongier claimed the ball and set him up, and Vitinha made it 3-0 in the 64th minute after defender Sead Kolasinac’s header off the post.
Vitinha, 23, joined Marseille in January for 32 million euros ($34.8 million) from Braga, but he has yet to score in eight games.
It was a relief for a Marseille team that has the greatest away form in the league but had lost its previous five league games at Stade Velodrome.
Sunday morning, Monaco put pressure on Marseille with a 3-1 home victory over Lorient.
In the competition for a Champions League berth for the following season, Monaco remains in fourth place, three points behind Marseille and two behind Lens.
The second-place finisher qualifies automatically, and the third-place finisher qualifies for the qualifying rounds.
Krépin Diatta and Aleksandr Golovin scored for Monaco in the first half. Forward Kevin Volland made it 3-0 early in the second half before Lorient’s Ibrahima Koné scored a late penalty to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Meanwhile, Lille defeated Montpellier 2-1 at home to reclaim a fifth place in the Europa League race from Rennes.
Midway through the first half, Issiaga Sylla’s goal gave Montpellier the lead. Jonathan David’s 20th league goal gave Lille the tie in the 70th minute. It tied the Canadian striker with Kylian Mbappé of Paris Saint-Germain at the summit of the scoring charts. Three minutes later, veteran winger Remy Cabella scored the winning goal for Lille.
