“I’m Ready When It Matters” – Greenwood Delivers as Marseille Edge Monaco
Mason Greenwood waited, stayed patient, and then struck when Marseille needed him most. The former Manchester United forward scored a late winner to secure a 1–0 victory over Monaco on Sunday, a result that lifted Marseille back into third place in Ligue 1 and reignited their push at the top end of the table.
The decisive moment arrived eight minutes from time at a tense Stade Velodrome. Greenwood swept home a first-time finish from inside the box after Pierre-Emil Hojbjerg slid a perfectly weighted pass into his path. It was his 14th goal of the season in all competitions and his 11th in Ligue 1, numbers that continue to underline his growing influence in southern France.
The goal came against the backdrop of mounting tension. Moments earlier, Monaco thought they had broken the deadlock when Folarin Balogun found the net, only for Video Assistant Referee intervention to rule the effort out for offside. That decision swung momentum back toward Marseille and Greenwood made sure they capitalized.
Marseille’s celebrations briefly cost Greenwood a booking for removing his shirt, but no one inside the Velodrome was concerned. What mattered was the result. Roberto De Zerbi’s side now sits within five points of leaders Lens, keeping genuine pressure on the teams above them as the season enters a decisive phase.
The victory was hard-earned. Marseille edged the balance of play, but Monaco was never second best. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Timothy Weah forced early saves from Lukas Hradecky, while at the other end Aleksandr Golovin and Takumi Minamino tested Geronimo Rulli as the match swung from end to end.
Greenwood himself was heavily involved long before the winner. He fired narrowly wide on two occasions in the first half and later drew two sharp saves from Hradecky as Marseille searched for a breakthrough. Minamino continued to threaten for Monaco, while Igor Paixao also went close, drawing another stop from the visiting goalkeeper.
As the clock ticked down, it felt like one of those nights where missed chances would be punished. Balogun’s disallowed goal seemed to confirm that fear, especially with Monaco pushing forward late on. Instead, Marseille found their composure in midfield, Hojbjerg stepped up with a line-breaking pass, and Greenwood delivered the finish that separated the sides.
The timing of Greenwood’s contribution adds to its significance. Just days earlier, he scored twice against Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League, continuing a run of form that is quickly making him one of Marseille’s most reliable attacking outlets. His ability to drift into space, attack defenders directly and stay calm in front of the goal is becoming central to their attacking identity.
From Monaco’s perspective, the frustration will linger. They matched Marseille for chances and came within minutes of taking the lead. George Ilenikhena even had a last-gasp opportunity to equalize in stoppage time, but Rulli stood firm to preserve the clean sheet.
Beyond the immediate result, this match raises bigger questions. Can Greenwood maintain this level of output across multiple competitions? Can Marseille turn narrow wins like this into sustained momentum as the pressure increases? And how costly will nights like this prove for Monaco in a tightly contested top four race?
What is clear is that Marseille is still very much in the conversation. They are winning ugly when required, relying on individuals in decisive moments, and keeping pace with the league’s frontrunners. With Greenwood finding form at exactly the right time, belief is growing inside the Velodrome.
The margins are thin in Ligue 1 this season. On Sunday night, they fell in Marseille’s favor.