Marseille currently holds a two-point advantage over Monaco and Nice, who will face off in the highly anticipated French Riviera derby on Saturday. Meanwhile, Marseille travels to face a struggling Reims side that has failed to win a league match since November.
Reims’ Struggles Open Door for Marseille
Reims started the season in impressive form, collecting 14 points from their first seven matches, including a 2-2 draw against Marseille. However, their fortunes have taken a dramatic downturn, with six consecutive defeats leaving them in 15th place. This presents a golden opportunity for Marseille to bounce back from recent setbacks.
Monaco vs. Nice: A Battle of Equals
Separated by just 20 kilometers, Monaco and Nice are not only close geographically but also in the league standings. Both teams are tied at 47 points with an identical +19 goal difference. Their attacking output is nearly identical as well, with Monaco scoring 51 goals and Nice 50.
Even their leading scorers, Mika Biereth and Evann Guessand, have netted 11 goals each. Monaco coach Adi Hütter emphasized the importance of the derby, saying, “We know it’s very important, both for the club and the fans.”
Key Players Returning for Monaco
Monaco will be boosted by the return of Folarin Balogun, who is set to play after recovering from shoulder surgery. The U.S. international made a statement by scoring a hat-trick for Monaco’s reserves during the week. Midfielder Aleksandr Golovin is also expected to return from injury.
Hütter has also made a crucial decision in goal, reinstating Philipp Köhn as Monaco’s No. 1 ahead of Radek Majecki. “They press high up the field, they are a strong side and have speed up front,” Hütter said about Nice. “They are good in transitional play.”
Marseille’s Greenwood Under Pressure
For Marseille, Mason Greenwood’s form is under scrutiny. The English forward is the club’s top scorer with 15 goals in Ligue 1, second only to PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé (21).
However, coach Roberto De Zerbi has benched Greenwood in recent matches against Lens and PSG, reportedly due to concerns over his work rate and tendency to over-dribble. The decision backfired, as Marseille lost both matches, scoring just once.
During the international break, Greenwood returned to training early, working with a personal trainer in an attempt to regain his coach’s trust.
PSG Closing In on the Title
While the race for second place intensifies, PSG remains comfortably ahead and could move closer to securing a record-extending 13th Ligue 1 title with a win over second-to-last Saint-Etienne.
With the season nearing its climax, all eyes are on the Côte d’Azur derby and Marseille’s response to their recent struggles. The battle for Champions League qualification is far from over.