Marseille secured a crucial 2-0 victory against Angers, extending their lead in the Ligue 1 standings with 43 points. Although Paris SG remains out of reach, Marseille increased their advantage over Nice and Monaco. Angers, in 13th place, missed a chance to distance themselves from relegation. Key moments included a missed opportunity by Estéban Lepaul and goals from Adrien Rabiot and Neal Maupay. Marseille is poised for favorable matches ahead, aiming to strengthen their position before facing Paris SG.
Marseille Secures a Vital Victory Against Angers
On Sunday, Marseille showcased their dominance yet faced challenges in overcoming Angers’ defense during their Ligue 1 clash at the end of the 21st matchday. However, their well-earned 2-0 victory has allowed them to extend their lead in the league standings over their rivals.
Standings and Future Prospects
With a total of 43 points, Olympique de Marseille is unlikely to catch up to Paris SG, who currently sits at the top with a ten-point advantage. Nevertheless, OM capitalized on the setbacks of Monaco and Lille, creating a six-point cushion over their nearest challengers, Nice (3rd) and Monaco (4th).
Meanwhile, Angers, positioned in 13th place, missed a critical opportunity to gain ground on the relegation zone after the defeats of Reims, Saint-Etienne, and Montpellier. The Olympians’ victory was well deserved, as Roberto de Zerbi’s squad consistently pressured their opponents, demonstrating commendable patience despite some missed chances.
One significant regret for SCO came from striker Estéban Lepaul, who missed a key opportunity in the 66th minute when his shot went slightly off-target while facing the goal. At that moment, the score was still 0-0, and the outcome may have been different had they taken the lead. Shortly thereafter, Adrien Rabiot scored with a precise header, putting Marseille ahead in the 69th minute.
Just five minutes later, Neal Maupay sealed the deal by finishing a brilliant two-man play with Amine Gouiri, extending the lead to 2-0 in the 74th minute. Prior to these goals, there were doubts about whether OM could penetrate Angers’ compact defense. Interestingly, the most threatening player for Marseille was left wing-back Quentin Merlin, which is not typically a positive indicator for a team.
Merlin had several attempts, including a center-shot saved by Yahia Fofana in the 12th minute and a volley from Ismaël Bennacer that went straight to the goalkeeper in the 25th minute. He also failed to convert a clear chance right before his substitution in the 58th minute, allowing Maupay to take the spotlight with his skillful finishing. Additionally, Gouiri squandered a golden opportunity in front of an open goal in the 37th minute.
Although Rabiot (45th minute) and Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg (62nd minute) produced headers that lacked power, Fofana remained untroubled, benefiting from the support of Florent Hanin on a shot from Leonardo Balerdi just before the opening goal.
Ultimately, these missed opportunities proved inconsequential, and Marseille can take pride in the effective integration of their new signings, Gouiri and Bennacer, who both started the match. With Amar Dedic coming on in the last quarter-hour, OM now looks ahead to a relatively favorable schedule, facing three opponents from the lower half of the standings—Saint-Etienne, Auxerre, and Nantes. This stretch offers a chance to solidify their position before their upcoming visit to Parc des Princes in a month.