PARIS — Marseille and Monaco have successfully secured their positions in next season’s Champions League after impressive performances, while Paris Saint-Germain achieved a commanding 4-1 win against Montpellier, the bottom team in Ligue 1, with Goncalo Ramos shining through with a hat trick on Saturday.
As the season neared its finale, Marseille reclaimed the lead against a struggling Le Havre, thanks to Mason Greenwood’s pivotal 19th league goal scored in the 85th minute. Amine Gouiri’s double contributed to Marseille’s 3-1 away triumph.
Monaco, positioned just a point behind Marseille, confirmed their 18th league victory by overcoming Lyon with a 2-0 scoreline, courtesy of strikes from Takumi Minamino and Denis Zakaria. This result ensured Monaco’s finish among the league’s top three teams, all of which directly qualify for the Champions League group stage, while the fourth-placed team will go to the qualifying rounds.
Gouiri initially put Marseille ahead after the break, but the match saw an interruption due to crowd disturbances. Desperate to stay in the top division, Le Havre managed an equalizer through Issa Soumaré after a well-executed assist by Josue Casimir. However, Greenwood’s exquisite effort from outside the area restored Marseille’s advantage, with Gouiri sealing the victory during stoppage time.
Marseille’s coach, Roberto De Zerbi, acknowledged the team’s early season struggles, especially at the Velodrome. He emphasized the importance of unity, suggesting that prioritizing cohesion over technical play was key to their success. “We saw a family on the pitch,” De Zerbi remarked, highlighting their improved chances of winning.
Fresh from defeating Arsenal to reach the Champions League final, PSG’s coach Luis Enrique opted to rest seven key players: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Fabian Ruiz, and Vitinha. In a strategic move, 18-year-old midfielder Senny Mayulu was handed a start and impressed by scoring before halftime. Ramos then increased PSG’s lead, converting a deflection and later scoring a penalty.
With six games ahead of the competition, PSG aims for a historic treble, with ambitions set on the upcoming Champions League final against Inter Milan on May 31st and another opportunity for a trophy against Reims in the French Cup final.
Following Marseille and Monaco, a tight race ensues with Nice, Lille, and Strasbourg all level on points after suffering defeats on Saturday. Lyon, sitting in seventh position, eyes a potential fourth spot but must overcome Angers and hope for losses from those three teams.
“There’s a lot of regret, anger, and disappointment,” Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette expressed. “We feel sorry for all the fans who believed in us. We’ve made mistakes all season, but also tonight.”
In the relegation battle, Montpellier’s demotion is confirmed, yet Saint-Etienne clings to hope. Their 2-0 victory at Reims places them just a point shy of 16th-placed Le Havre, which occupies the relegation playoff position.