By AFP
Monaco beat slumping Marseille 3-0 on Saturday to take second place in Ligue 1 from their opponents and enhance their hopes of qualifying for subsequent season’s Champions League.
The principality membership lead Marseille by one level with 5 matches remaining, however seventh-placed Good are solely 5 factors additional adrift with a sport in hand.
Monaco inflicted a fourth defeat in 5 Ligue 1 video games on Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille, who’re in peril of throwing away a Champions League place after sitting second within the French prime flight for a lot of the marketing campaign.
“We have now to stay cautious as a result of the hole is just one level,” mentioned Monaco coach Adi Huetter. “It is going to be very shut with our opponents.”
The groups who end second and third behind champions Paris Saint-Germain will safe spots immediately into the Champions League, with the fourth-placed facet heading into the qualifying rounds.
“We’re nonetheless alive, we nonetheless have an important probability of reaching the Champions League,” mentioned Marseille coach De Zerbi.
“I’ve nothing to say to the gamers; we should stay united. I’m optimistic. I’m extra optimistic tonight than after some defeats and even some victories.”
Monaco took the lead within the thirty fourth minute on the Stade Louis II when Takumi Minamino swept house his fifth league objective of the season following some dreadful Marseille defending.
OM got here near an equaliser shortly earlier than half-time, however Luis Henrique’s effort was properly saved by Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Kohn.
The hosts doubled their benefit shortly earlier than the hour as Breel Embolo slipped the ball previous Geronimo Rulli after a superb cross via from Vanderson.
The objective was awarded following a prolonged VAR evaluation for offside.
Monaco added additional gloss to the scoreline and bolstered their objective distinction, which might show essential, via Denis Zakaria’s late penalty.
“Within the first half, we performed very properly, even when we didn’t have any nice probabilities aside from Luis Henrique’s,” added De Zerbi.
“However we didn’t endure an excessive amount of, and I discover it tough to elucidate their objective. It was a silly objective, and that occurs to us too usually.”
Lille climbed to fourth with a 2-1 victory at Toulouse, though both Strasbourg or Good might overtake once they meet in a while Saturday.
Mitchel Bakker scored the successful objective in first-half damage time, after Toulouse centre-back Charlie Cresswell had cancelled out Mathias Fernandez-Pardo’s opener.
