After a good PSG Strasbourg yesterday, the high table of Ligue 1 was there to purchase PSG’s lead. And Marseille manage to win while Lyon and Monaco struggled.
Lyon stumble against Nice
After the defeat before the international break against Toulouse, Olympique Lyonnais fell once more — this time to an excellent Nice side that delivered its first true statement performance against a top Ligue 1 opponent. Ruthless finishing and efficiency were the keys to Nice’s victory. As usual, Lyon dominated possession, but the Niçois were far sharper on the ball. Melvin Bard’s opener put Nice in a perfect position — sit deep, absorb pressure, and strike on the counter. Although Lyon equalized through Pavel Šulc, Sofiane Diop quickly restored the lead. The Moroccan was brilliant on the night, with both a goal and an assist.
Lyon had a golden chance to equalize again from the penalty spot, but regular taker Ainsley Maitland-Niles missed it — and on the ensuing counterattack, Algerian midfielder Hicham Boudaoui struck to make it 3–1. Šulc grabbed his second goal late on, but Lyon left the Allianz Riviera with another bitter defeat and a suitcase full of regrets after wasting numerous chances. Nice climb into the top half of the table, sitting eighth.
Monaco miss their chance in Poccognoli’s debut
For Sébastien Poccognoli’s first match in charge — having arrived from Union Saint-Gilloise — Monaco could only manage a 1–1 draw away at the Stade Raymond Kopa. Lacking inspiration, the match was largely lifeless and devoid of real chances. Fearful of mistakes that could cost them their spot, Monaco’s players took minimal risks, a hesitation reflected in Mika Biereth’s struggles up front. The Danish striker was replaced by American Folarin Balogun, while Takumi Minamino’s introduction brought much-needed creativity.
It was Minamino who unlocked the game, assisting Monaco’s opener. Yet, in line with their ongoing defensive issues, the Monégasques were caught out by a late equalizer from Sidiki Chérif. Poccognoli clearly has plenty of work ahead to revive this inconsistent Monaco side.
Marseille goes on the top of Ligue 1
The draw between Strasbourg and PSG opened the door for Olympique de Marseille to take the Ligue 1 lead — and Roberto De Zerbi’s men did not miss their chance, crushing Le Havre 6–2 at the Vélodrome. Surprisingly, the visitors struck first through Kechta, but the game quickly turned into a nightmare. Gauthier Lloris was sent off for a handball as the last defender — a harsh decision given the new leniency toward “double punishment” (penalty plus red card).
That incident marked the beginning of the Mason Greenwood show. The Englishman equalized from the spot, then netted a blistering nine-minute hat-trick to seal the win. Young substitute Robinio Vaz also found the net, while Amir Murillo added another to complete the rout.
OM now sit alone at the top of Ligue 1 — confident, ruthless, and very much in control.