Ligue 1: Marseille Leapfrog Monaco into Second Place with Thrilling Win

Marseille secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Monaco, thanks to Mason Greenwood's late penalty, propelling them into second place in Ligue 1.

Marseille secured a thrilling comeback victory over Monaco, with Mason Greenwood's late penalty proving to be the decisive factor in a 2-1 win. The hard-fought triumph propelled Marseille into second place in Ligue 1, leapfrogging Monaco on goal difference, with only a single point separating the two teams prior to the match.

The highly anticipated encounter at the Stade Velodrome lived up to expectations, with both teams displaying a cautious approach during a tightly contested first half. The tense atmosphere reflected the high stakes, with the two sides locked in a battle for supremacy in Ligue 1.

The initial 40 minutes of the match were marked by a lack of clear-cut scoring opportunities, with only two notable chances arising. Eliesse Ben Seghir forced Geronimo Rulli into action, while Mason Greenwood's ambitious long-range effort was comfortably saved by Radoslaw Majecki. Despite these glimpses of attacking intent, it seemed likely that the first half would end goalless.

However, Monaco capitalized on a critical error by Valentin Rongier in the 41st minute. The midfielder's loose pass was quickly seized upon by the visitors, who swiftly moved the ball to Aleksandr Golovin on the left side of the box. Golovin then fired past Rulli, extending Monaco's impressive scoring run to 17 consecutive away league games.

Monaco's halftime lead was short-lived, as a costly mistake by Mohammed Salisu led to Marseille's equalizer just eight minutes into the second half. Salisu's error allowed the ball to fall into the path of Neal Maupay, who expertly nodded it on for Luis Henrique to head home his sixth goal of the season.

With the momentum now firmly in Marseille's favor, Mason Greenwood took center stage, leading the charge for a potential winner. He showcased his skill, cutting inside onto his left foot and unleashing a powerful shot that tested the reflexes of Monaco goalkeeper Radosław Majecki. Despite Marseille's pressure, Monaco refused to give up, with Aleksandr Golovin and Takumi Minamino both coming close to scoring. However, just as it seemed the match would end in a draw, Marseille was awarded a late penalty after a VAR review determined that Christian Mawissa had handled the ball in the box.

Mason Greenwood maintained his calm and slotted the penalty past Radosław Majecki, securing Marseille's first home league victory since September. This win allowed Marseille to leapfrog Monaco into second place, albeit temporarily, as both teams concluded Matchday 13 with 26 points, seven points behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain.