Marseille’s dismal home form continues after draw
paris — Marseille’s miserable home form continued on Sunday after they were held 1-1 by mid-table Nantes, while Monaco are level with Lyon in their fight for second place after drawing 1-1 at Rennes.
Marseille are in 16th place and just five points clear of the relegation zone. Monaco and Lyon are battling it out for an automatic place in next season’s Champions League.
Monaco led through midfielder Helder Costa’s early goal, but Ivory Coast striker Giovanni Sio leveled 10 minutes from time, sparking a frantic finale where Monaco right back Fabinho missed a good chance in injury time.
Lyon, who are second, hold the advantage as they have a much better goal difference and hosts Monaco in the penultimate round of games.
Marseille are the only French club to have won the Champions League, in 1993, but can only qualify for the Europa League by beating Paris Saint-Germain in the French Cup final on May 21.
That looks a long shot, considering that French champions PSG are 27 points clear at the top — with a game in hand — and sit a staggering 45 points ahead of bitter rival Marseille.
Marseille have not won at home since beating Bastia on Sept. 13 — a run of 15 games in the French league. On Sunday, they fell behind in the 31st minute following a mix-up in defence that led to center half Nicolas N’Koulou’s own goal.
Winger Florian Thauvin equalised in the 49th, but Marseille’s hopes of an elusive home win were hit when midfielder Alaixys Romao was shown a straight red card in the 55th.
“We were on top and we conceded a goal we shouldn’t have,” Thauvin said. “There is obviously a lack of confidence, since we haven’t won at home for so long.”
Elsewhere, striker Nolan Roux scored twice as Saint-Etienne beat Lorient 2-0 to climb to fifth place and behind fourth-place Nice on goal difference.
Marseille has been in turmoil for several months and Spanish coach Michel was fired on Tuesday. Fans stayed away in their droves and those that were there jeered the players off at halftime.
Soon after Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi hit the post, rather than passing to the unmarked Thauvin next to him, Nantes took the lead.
As a cross came from the left, N’Koulou and goalkeeper Steve Mandanda both went for it. N’Koulou then ducked, only for the ball to bounce off his back, loop over Mandanda and into the net.
It was the kind of calamitous goal that summed up Marseille’s abject season. —