PARIS — In the French league match on Sunday, Marseille, currently in second place, dropped more points as they drew 1-1 against Strasbourg. This match further widened the gap between them and league leaders Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), who remain nine points ahead after their victory over Lens on Saturday.
Throughout the first half, Marseille struggled to establish their offensive play against a formidable visiting team. Emanuel Emegha capitalized on Marseille’s sluggish defense, scoring for Strasbourg in the 23rd minute. Emegha found himself unmarked thanks to a well-timed pass from Andrey Santos, easily slotting the ball past goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli with a delicate chip finish.
Marseille’s challenges continued as Strasbourg exerted a significant amount of pressure, but the home team improved in the second half. Their perseverance paid off when they earned a penalty in the 66th minute after Robinio Vaz was fouled in the box. Mason Greenwood stepped up to take the penalty, coolly sending a low shot past Djordje Petrovic, who guessed correctly but could not stop the shot.
The second half showcased opportunities for both teams, with Strasbourg coming close to extending their lead. Just 20 minutes before the final whistle, a precise through ball found Emegha again. He managed to break free from the defense but his attempt hit the post, allowing Marseille to stay level.
In a troubling season for the historic clubs of Saint-Etienne and Nantes, both teams find themselves near the bottom of the standings with only 17 points each from 18 matches, putting them at risk of demotion. Saint-Etienne is currently 16th in the 18-team league, occupying the relegation playoff position, just behind Nantes, who holds a slightly better goal difference.
Nantes seemed poised to secure all three points during their trip to Stade Geoffroy Guichard after Moses Simon scored early in the 14th minute. However, late drama unfolded in the 86th minute when substitute Augustine Boakye found the net for Saint-Etienne, leveling the match with a spectacular long-range curled shot.
In another match filled with misfortunes, Auxerre’s rough start against Angers saw Sinaly Diomandé inadvertently score an own goal in the 18th minute while attempting to clear a corner. Just four minutes later, Gabriel Osho was shown a red card for a foul on Estéban Lepaul, leaving Auxerre with just ten men for the remainder of the match. The uphill battle proved too great as Angers took advantage, scoring a second goal shortly after the halftime break, ultimately winning 2-0.
With this result, Angers climbed to level points with Auxerre, as both teams sit considerably behind PSG, trailing by 24 points. Additionally, Reims and Le Havre played to a 1-1 draw in other league action.
