Marseille 1 - 0 FT Monaco

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

Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 41/100. 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.

Marseille's Top-Four Credentials Face Monaco's Desperate Escape

Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 80/100. This is a certified six-pointer in the race for Champions League football: Marseille must cement their position, while Monaco hunt their first win in five to avoid the drop zone.

The Setup

Marseille sit third with 29 points and an untouchable form line—three straight wins, averaging 3.3 goals per game. The attack is a clinical machine. Mason Greenwood epitomises this ruthlessness: three goals in three matches, averaging an 8.0 rating. He's not just finishing; he's terrorising defences. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang orchestrates from midfield with three assists in five outings, the architect of Marseille's dominance.

Monaco's balance has collapsed. Seventh place, 23 points, and a nightmare run: four defeats in five matches. Their goal difference sits at zero—26 scored, 26 conceded. A. Gouiri carries the offensive load alone, but without collective support, he's isolated. Defensively, they're porous.

Key Battle

Marseille's relentless attacking intent versus Monaco's fractured backline. Greenwood and Aubameyang will hunt space constantly; Jeffrey de Lange must be immaculate to contain the onslaught. Whoever controls the tempo—Marseille's press or Monaco's counter-press—dictates the narrative.

Our Prediction

Marseille 2-1. The hosts absorb early Monaco pressure (a desperate team always fights), then exploit gaps via Greenwood's pace and Aubameyang's vision. A late Monaco goal adds drama but arrives too late. Marseille secure their Stakes and march toward the podium.