After PSG’s draw in Auxerre and Monaco’s triumph over Toulouse, Olympique Marseille had a massive imperative to beat Saint-Etienne and join the duo in the title race. And Roberto De Zerbi’s boys were up to the task as they brushed aside the Les Verts 2-0 behind Rabiot’s “comeback goal” and Greenwood’s tenth Ligue 1 strike.10 goals with Marseille for Mason Greenwood 🏴 pic.twitter.com/zTxrbQuRY9— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 8, 2024 Saint-Etienne did make the first attempt over Zuriko Davitashvili, whose effort Geronimo Rulli stopped but everything else in the first half was about the visitors. Quentin Merlin threatened twice, while Mason Greenwood couldn’t go past Gautier Larsonneur either.De Zerbi showed United’s contract offer to his playersAs a matter of fact, the only De Zerbi’s “protegee,” who managed to outsmart Saint-Etienne’s custodian before the break was the returnee to the French football, Adrien Rabiot, who exploited Neal Maupay’s well-timed pass in the 17th minute, and netted his first goal in Ligue 1 after October 20, 2018!BIG Marseille goal 🔥Neal Maupay with the assist, Adrien Rabiot with the volley 💥 pic.twitter.com/y6Iju9UwMA— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 8, 2024 Saint-Etienne seemed more determined after the break and at some point looked like an equal rival to the visitors. However, when Greenwood went down in the box after Louis Mouton’s tackle and the ref Jerome Brisard pointed to the spot in the 65th minute, Les Verts’ dreams of avoiding defeat started to crumble. The Englishman took the penalty, which Larsonneur stopped, but the rebound went back to the former Man United winger who sent it home for 2-0!Greenwood misses the penalty but scores right after ⚽️🥅 pic.twitter.com/AElNH2u935— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 8, 2024 After this triumph, Marseille took over the second spot from Monaco, as De Zerbi’s crew has a better goal difference. Paris Saint-Germain are five steps ahead, but are also in a deep crisis, which Marseille see as their chance to additionally reduce the gap in the near future and get back in the title race. Conversely, Saint-Etienne will probably fight to avoid relegation until the ultimate round, as they currently sit in the 16th spot.##NAJAVA_MECA_8556060##LIGUE 1 – MATCHDAY 14Friday Lille – Brest 3-1 (2-0)/David 7 pen, 69, Haraldsson 44 – Ajorque 48/Auxerre – PSG 0-0Saturday Monaco – Toulouse 2-0 (0-0)/Singo 50, Embolo 82/Nice – Le Havre 2-1 (0-0)/Laborde 55 pen, Bouanani 75 – Lloris 90+2/Angers – Olympique Lyon 0-3 (0-1)/Tagliafico 26, Cherki 55, Mikautadze 88/Sunday Lens – Montpellier 2-0 (1-0)/Labeau Lascary 39, Lecomte 90+1 og/Nantes – Rennes 1-0 (0-0)/Simon 89/Strasbourg – Reims 0-0Saint-Etienne – Olympique Marseille 0-2 (0-1)/Rabiot 17, Greenwood 65/
