As the Ligue 1 season enters its final stretch, the heat is on for Roberto De Zerbi and his Marseille side, who find themselves suddenly thrust into a fierce dogfight for Champions League qualification. With Paris Saint-Germain already crowned champions for a fourth consecutive season and temporarily stepping aside this weekend to prepare for their Champions League clash with Aston Villa, all eyes turn to the intense scrap for the remaining European spots.
From Cruise Control to Crisis: Marseille's Stumble
Just a couple of months ago, Marseille were comfortably in second place, appearing to glide toward a return to Europe’s top competition. After 22 matches, they sat six points clear in second and 10 ahead of Lyon in sixth. However, a sudden collapse in form saw them lose four of five league matches, sparking chaos behind the scenes. Reports emerged of player unrest, and head coach Roberto De Zerbi’s frustration boiled over, fueling rumors of mutiny — rumors that forward Neal Maupay swiftly denied.
De Zerbi, no stranger to high-pressure environments, admitted his annoyance but rejected suggestions of a fractured squad. Last weekend, Marseille responded to their manager’s challenge, grinding out a dramatic 3-2 win over Toulouse, with standout goals from Mason Greenwood and Adrien Rabiot proving decisive.
Now sitting in second place again, Marseille must hold off a charging pack, starting with a critical away match at third-placed Monaco this Saturday. The stakes are clear — should Monaco win, they leapfrog Marseille and gain the upper hand in the race for the Champions League.
Monaco, Strasbourg, and the Chasing Pack
For Monaco, who lost last weekend at Brest, the pressure is just as intense. A defeat at home to Marseille could see them fall five points adrift, a potentially fatal blow to their top-three ambitions. “The most important thing is that we have our future in our own hands,” said Monaco boss Adi Hütter. “It is up to us to seize the opportunity.”
The drama doesn’t end with the top three. Strasbourg, Lyon, Lille, and Nice are all within striking distance of the automatic spots, separated by just a few points. Strasbourg host Nice in what could be the weekend’s sleeper hit — a win for either could catapult them into the top three.
Lyon, currently balancing their Europa League campaign, travel to Auxerre, while Lille face a tricky trip to Toulouse. Even Brest and Lens, further down the table, haven’t been ruled out of the European equation, especially with Lens kicking off the weekend at home to Reims.
De Zerbi’s Key Weapon: Mason Greenwood
If Marseille are to secure their Champions League berth, Mason Greenwood will be vital. The English forward, who temporarily lost his starting role before the international break, was back in the lineup for last week’s victory over Toulouse and reminded everyone of his talent. His brilliant strike — his 16th of the season — put him second in the league scoring charts behind PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé (21).
Greenwood’s resurgence couldn’t come at a better time. With every match now crucial, De Zerbi will be counting on his top scorer to deliver again at the Stade Louis II.
Key Stats
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5 – Just five points separate second-placed Marseille from seventh-placed Lille.
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6 – Strasbourg are on a five-match winning run and have conceded only six goals in their last 11 games.
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9 – Montpellier have lost nine straight matches, slumping to the bottom of Ligue 1.
Weekend Fixtures (All times GMT)
Friday:
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Lens vs Reims (6:45pm)
Saturday:
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Monaco vs Marseille (3:00pm)
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Toulouse vs Lille (5:00pm)
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Strasbourg vs Nice (7:05pm)
Sunday:
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Saint-Etienne vs Brest (1:00pm)
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Le Havre vs Rennes (3:15pm)
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Angers vs Montpellier (3:15pm)
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Auxerre vs Lyon (6:45pm)
Tuesday, April 22:
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Nantes vs Paris Saint-Germain (6:45pm)
With only a few rounds remaining, the battle for Champions League football in France promises to deliver drama, tension, and high stakes — exactly the kind of environment where legends are made.
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