Monaco vs Marseille Review
Monaco moved ahead of Marseille into second place, thanks to a 3-0 win at the Stade Louis II. Marseille had the first real chance to score just before the 15-minute mark, with the in-form Luis Henrique sending a powerful shot just wide of the post. The hosts then attempted to take the lead in the 23rd minute when Takumi Minamino had a chance, but his ambitious shot went into the stands. However, the Japanese forward’s fortunes changed shortly after the half-hour mark. Gerónimo Rulli failed to hold onto Mika Biereth’s shot, allowing Zakaria to set up Minamino, who confidently slotted the ball into an empty net.
In a surprising turn of events, Marseille missed a chance to equalize before halftime. Henrique, despite having an open net, managed to misdirect his shot, allowing Philipp Köhn to make a crucial save. That was the last clear opportunity before the break. Similar to the first half, Marseille had the first chance after the restart, but Köhn skillfully denied two quick attempts from Mason Greenwood. Köhn’s efforts soon proved crucial, as Monaco sealed the match in the 58th minute when Vanderson’s precise pass set up Breel Embolo, who confidently scored past Rulli.
However, Marseille refused to give up easily, and Amine Gouiri nearly created a thrilling finish, but Köhn was determined to keep a clean sheet, celebrating enthusiastically after deflecting Gouiri’s shot around the post. Zakaria eliminated any lingering doubts in the 80th minute by scoring an unstoppable penalty, following a reckless foul by Rulli, who tugged on Embolo’s shirt as he was about to shoot.
This victory marked Monaco’s sixth consecutive win at the Stade Louis II, solidifying their spot in the top four and putting them five points ahead of fifth-place Lyon. With this impressive performance, Monaco is well on its way to making its appearance in the UEFA Champions League (UCL). On the other hand, Marseille suffered their fourth straight away defeat, a first since November 2023, leaving Roberto De Zerbi’s team anxious about their position as they compete for a spot among Europe’s elite next season.
