Roberto De Zerbi made a subtle remark about Nice after his Marseille team defeated them 5-1, climbing to the top of Ligue 1. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his 400th career goal, while Mason Greenwood added two more goals to help Marseille secure their fourth away victory in five matches.
This is an improvement from their previous ten games, where they only won twice.
Mason Greenwood’s performance was notable as he scored his 30th and 31st Ligue 1 goals in just 46 appearances for Marseille. Since the 1947-48 season, only Gunnar Andersson and Josip Skoblar have reached the 30-goal milestone in fewer games for the club. Greenwood’s achievement highlights his significant contribution to Marseille’s attacking strength.
In addition to Aubameyang and Greenwood, Timothy Weah and Igor Paixao also found the back of the net for Marseille. Weah ended a long goal drought in Ligue 1 with his first goal since May 2022, when he scored twice for Lille against Rennes. The American international dedicated this victory to the passionate Marseille supporters.
De Zerbi hinted that Marseille does not consider their match against Nice as significant as their opponents do. “We played well against a strong team. For them, it’s a derby,” De Zerbi told Ligue 1+. He acknowledged the tense nature of the match but expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and their provisional lead in the standings.
The win places Marseille one point ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, although PSG has a game against Le Havre on Saturday. De Zerbi emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and continuing to perform at a high level throughout the season.
Support from Fans
The atmosphere created by Marseille fans was electric, with noise and flares filling the stadium. Timothy Weah expressed gratitude towards them: “We went to greet the away section. Even from afar, the fans are with us. We play for them; this victory is for them.” The players’ connection with their supporters is evident and adds motivation to their performances.
This victory underscores Marseille’s strong team dynamics and unity. As Weah noted, “It feels great. We put in a good team performance. That’s the strength of this group; we’re a family.” Such camaraderie will be crucial as they aim to maintain their position at the top of Ligue 1.