Marseille clinches grit over style: Greenwood's moment seals the Vélodrome

Durchschnitt Futmetrix-Wertung: 39/100. A match of rare intensity at the Vélodrome, where Marseille transformed a barrage of 36 shots into a single, decisive strike that tightens their grip on third place.

The Vélodrome erupts: 36 shots, one golden moment

When Marseille faced Monaco on this December evening, the stage was set for a contest of relentless attacking ambition. The home side pressed from the first whistle, unleashing a combined 36 shots with 15 finding the target—a testament to the intensity that gripped the Vélodrome. Yet for 82 minutes, balance remained elusive. Gerónimo Rulli proved why he's Marseille's last line of defence, making five crucial saves to keep his side level and Monaco's hopes alive.

Hojbjerg conducts the symphony, Greenwood delivers the crescendo

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was the architect of Marseille's dominance, threading passes with surgical precision and controlling the tempo with the composure of a seasoned maestro. His two key passes orchestrated the rhythm; his presence was inescapable. Then came the moment that mattered most. At the 82nd minute, with stakes at their highest, Mason Greenwood latched onto a Hojbjerg assist and finished with clinical precision. Marseille had their breakthrough. But Monaco refused to fold: moments later, Folarin Balogun thought he'd levelled, only for VAR to strip away the goal—offside by the narrowest of margins.

Three points that matter in the title race

This 1-0 victory cements Marseille's third-place standing (32 points from 16 matches) and underscores their credentials in what promises to be a fierce title race. Monaco's resilience—six saves and relentless attacking ambition—proved insufficient. The Vélodrome had spoken with one voice: Marseille are contenders.