Monaco has boosted its hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League by beating slumping Marseille 3-0 on Saturday. The victory has seen Monaco take second place in Ligue 1, leading Marseille by one point with five matches remaining.
The principality club’s coach, Adi Huetter, emphasized the need for caution, saying, “We have to remain cautious because the gap is only one point. It will be very close with our opponents.” Monaco’s win has also seen them edge ahead of seventh-placed Nice, who are only five points further adrift with a game in hand.
Marseille’s coach, Roberto De Zerbi, remained optimistic despite the defeat, saying, “We’re still alive, we still have a great chance of reaching the Champions League. I have nothing to say to the players; we must remain united. I’m optimistic. I’m more optimistic tonight than after some defeats and even some victories.”
The match saw Monaco take the lead in the 34th minute when Takumi Minamino scored his fifth league goal of the season. The hosts doubled their advantage shortly before the hour mark through Breel Embolo’s goal, which was awarded following a lengthy VAR review for offside. Denis Zakaria added a late penalty to seal the win for Monaco.
De Zerbi attributed Marseille’s defeat to a lack of focus, saying, “In the first half, we played very well, even if we didn’t have any great chances apart from Luis Henrique’s. But we didn’t suffer too much, and I find it difficult to explain their goal. It was a stupid goal, and that happens to us too often.”
The Ligue 1 standings are becoming increasingly competitive, with Lille climbing to fourth with a 2-1 victory at Toulouse. Strasbourg and Nice could potentially overtake Lille when they meet later on Saturday.
The outcome of the Ligue 1 season will determine which teams qualify for the Champions League. The teams that finish second and third behind champions Paris Saint-Germain will secure spots directly into the Champions League, with the fourth-placed side heading into the qualifying rounds.