Recap: Maupay, Greenwood score as OM goes second
Match Reports
On a raucous evening at the Stade de la Beaujoire on Sunday, Olympique de Marseille finished matchday ten of Ligue 1 McDonald's in style, beating FC Nantes 2-1 to move into second place on the back of AS Monaco's loss on Friday.
De zerbi renews his faith in Greenwood...
After being taken off at halftime against Paris Saint-Germain last weekend, Mason Greenwood, despite being Marseille's leading scorer on the season, had work to do prove himself in the eyes of Roberto de Zerbi. Ahead of this match, De Zerbi averred that Greenwood was, like the rest of the team, in a cycle of "alternating strong with poorer ones, and he must find an equilibrium."
Elsewhere in attack, with Amine Harit suspended, de Zerbi lined up Ismaël Koné in midfield while handing Jonathan Rowe a rare start on the left. Nantes, missing Johann Lepenant, dropping Matthis Abline and starting both of Sorba Thomas and Tino Kadewere in an attack-minded 4-2-3-1.
WHAT A BANGER BY GREENWOOD! 🔥🏴 pic.twitter.com/nTJ9GiB8bi
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) November 3, 2024
...and sees it repaid!
Indeed, Greenwood wasn't far from giving the opener to his team with just seven minutes on the clock, getting on the end of a long pass from Geoffrey Kondogbia before being denied by Alban Lafont from close range. Continuing to play with a high press, Marseille's opener wasn't long in coming, as Rowe got forward on the left flank, picking out Neal Maupay, himself starting ahead of Elye Wahi, to give OM the lead.
Nantes would respond, though, as Tino Kadewere took advantage of some slack marking from Marseille to slot home a cross from Marcus Coco just before the break. After the break, Greenwood would restore Marseille's advantage, freeing himself centrally and finding the bottom corner from outside the area. Nantes would attempt to respond but both Kadewere and Mostafa Mohamed would scorn chances in the match's final half hour.
With the result, Marseille are second, ahead of Monaco on goal difference ahead of facing Auxerre on Friday, while Nantes are fourteenth before taking on RC Lens on Saturday.
The stat:
Mason Greenwood has seven goals in his first ten Marseille matches, reaching that number faster than any player for the club besides Mario Balotelli in the 21st century.
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