Marseille strengthened their hold on second place in Ligue 1 with a commanding 5-1 victory over struggling Saint-Etienne at the Stade Vélodrome on Saturday. New signing Amine Gouiri bagged a brace, while Mason Greenwood, Amir Murillo, and Adrien Rabiot also found the net in a dominant performance.
The result leaves Marseille seven points behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain, who were set to face Toulouse later in the evening. Meanwhile, Saint-Etienne remain in the bottom three and risk an immediate return to Ligue 2.
Gouiri Opens His Account for Marseille
Having impressed in his first two games since joining from Rennes in the January transfer window, Algerian international Amine Gouiri had yet to score for his new club. That changed against Saint-Etienne, as the forward broke the deadlock to give Roberto De Zerbi’s side a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Marseille had dominated possession in the first half, creating several chances, but it wasn’t until Gouiri’s clinical finish that they made their superiority count.
Greenwood Continues Red-Hot Form
Five minutes into the second half, Marseille doubled their advantage when Mason Greenwood confidently converted a penalty. The English forward has been in superb form this season, netting his 14th Ligue 1 goal—only PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé has scored more, with 16.
Greenwood’s consistency in front of goal has been a major factor in Marseille’s push for a Champions League spot, and he once again delivered when his team needed him.
Marseille Run Riot in the Second Half
With their two-goal lead, Marseille showed no mercy to their struggling opponents. Amir Murillo extended the advantage to 3-0, capitalizing on a defensive lapse from Saint-Etienne.
Gouiri then completed his brace, marking a perfect home debut with a well-taken finish to make it 4-0. The 24-year-old forward showed why Marseille moved quickly to secure his signature, demonstrating sharp movement and composure in front of goal.
Adrien Rabiot added further gloss to the scoreline with Marseille’s fifth goal, making it three consecutive matches in which the French midfielder has found the net.
Saint-Etienne’s Woes Continue
Saint-Etienne managed a late consolation goal through Lucas Stassin, but it did little to ease their growing concerns. The defeat leaves them firmly in the relegation zone, struggling to avoid a swift return to the second tier.
Having been promoted just last season, Saint-Etienne have found life in Ligue 1 difficult, and with time running out, they will need a dramatic turnaround to avoid the drop.
Marseille in Firm Control of Second Place
Marseille’s emphatic win ensures they remain nine points clear of their closest challengers, Nice and Monaco, at least for the time being. Monaco were set to face Nantes later on Saturday, but OM’s commanding performance further cemented their status as the best of the rest behind PSG.
While PSG remain favorites for the title, Marseille’s form under De Zerbi has been impressive, and they appear well on course for a return to the Champions League next season.
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