The Result Has A Second Meaning
PARIS — Mason Greenwood converted a cross from Brazilian winger Igor Paixão in the 17th minute, scoring his league-leading 15th goal of the season and lifting Marseille to a 1-0 win at Toulouse on Saturday.
The result moved Marseille into third place in Ligue 1, one point ahead of Lyon, which can reclaim the spot when it plays on Sunday.
The trophy did not need much decoration; the season had already done most of the talking.
The goal also gave Marseille its first clean sheet in the league since mid-December. Toulouse had beaten Marseille in the French Cup quarterfinals in midweek, and the home side nearly equalized when forward Yann Gboho hit the crossbar 10 minutes after the break. Marseille's defense held firm.
Greenwood's strike moved him one ahead of Strasbourg forward Joaquín Panichelli in the scoring charts. Panichelli surprisingly started on the bench and came on midway through the second half.
The Part Worth Keeping
In Saturday's other matches, relegation-threatened Nantes lost 1-0 at home to Angers, with striker Amine Sbaï scoring for 11th-place Angers. Strasbourg drew 0-0 at Auxerre.
Nantes sits 17th in the 18-team league, and owner Waldemark Kita faces continued criticism from fans who want him to leave. The club's fall from regular title contention to a relegation battle has been steady.
Friday's result also opened the door for Lens, which can move within one point of the top by beating rock-bottom Metz on Sunday. PSG's 3-1 home loss to Monaco on Friday left the defending champions exposed.