In an exciting clash at Nantes on Sunday night, former Premier League players Neal Maupay and Mason Greenwood shone brightly, leading Marseille to a 2-1 victory over their French league rivals. The win propels Marseille to second place in Ligue 1, six points adrift of leaders Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Maupay, who joined Marseille on a season-long loan from Everton this summer, opened the scoring in the 24th minute, connecting with a precise cross from fellow Englishman Jonathan Rowe at the far post. This moment marked a strong response for Marseille after their disappointing 3-0 defeat to PSG the previous week.
Mason Greenwood, the former Manchester United forward who faced scrutiny for a lackluster performance against PSG, redeemed himself by scoring the decisive goal just after the hour mark. Following a first-half equalizer from Tino Kadewere, Greenwood received the ball from Luis Henrique outside the box, cleverly dummied a defender, and unleashed a low shot that found the net, marking his seventh goal in just ten league appearances for Marseille.
“It has been a difficult week; we suffered after the loss against Paris,” said Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi, who transitioned from Brighton to Marseille this season. “This response was very important for us.”
In other Ligue 1 action, Zakaria Aboukhlal’s late goal secured a 1-0 victory for Toulouse against Reims, extending Toulouse’s unbeaten streak to three matches. Aboukhlal struck in the 84th minute with a deft finish over the Reims goalkeeper, pushing Toulouse up to 12th place in the standings with 12 points from ten matches, just two points shy of Reims.
Aboukhlal has been in fine form, scoring four goals in his last four league appearances, including a brace against Montpellier the previous week.
Meanwhile, PSG continued their strong start to the season, defeating Lens 1-0 on Saturday. In a battle of struggling teams, Montpellier, languishing at the bottom of the table, suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of second-to-last Le Havre, who snapped a six-match losing streak. Abdoulaye Toure scored from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute to give Le Havre a crucial win, while Montpellier faced their fifth consecutive loss, having conceded a staggering 30 goals in just ten matches.
Additionally, Gaetan Perrin was instrumental for Auxerre, scoring twice in their commanding 4-0 victory over Rennes, solidifying their position in mid-table. As the season unfolds, the battle for supremacy in Ligue 1 intensifies, with PSG maintaining their lead and Marseille firmly in pursuit.
