Marseille and Monaco have successfully advanced to the Round of 16 of the French Cup, showcasing their dominance in decisive matches this weekend. Marseille, with their impressive lineup, secured a commanding 4-0 win over Saint-Etienne, thanks to exceptional performances from key players including Mason Greenwood and Adrien Rabiot.
The match had its turning point early on, with Senegal's Ibrahim Sissoko receiving a red card just before the 22nd minute, significantly impacting Saint-Etienne's chances. Following this setback, Marseille capitalized on the numerical advantage to find the back of the net four times. Greenwood opened the scoring with a goal in the 22nd minute, followed by Rabiot's effort at the 34-minute mark. The momentum continued with Louis Henrique III pushing the score to 3-0 at the 68th minute, and Pierre-Emile Hoiberg rounding off the scoreline with another goal at 81 minutes.
Marseille's tactical prowess and efficient finishing were evident throughout the match, with Head Coach Igor Tudor praising the squad's discipline and depth following the game. "We executed the game plan perfectly, particularly after the red card," Tudor stated.
Meanwhile, Monaco also demonstrated their tactical strength by defeating sixth-division team Onion Saint-Jean with the same scoreline of 4-1. Elias Ben Saghir opened the scoring early for Monaco with a goal at the 20th minute. The team continued to apply pressure with Campos Vanderson scoring at the 37th minute and Jordan Tissi adding to the tally with another goal at 65 minutes. Late substitute Georges Elenekina scored the fourth goal for Monaco at the 90+1 minute mark, ensuring their comfortable victory. Despite Monaco's control of the match, Unión Saint-Jean managed to get on the scoresheet through Benjamin Tournier, who netted their solitary goal at 83 minutes.
Both teams’ victories are significant as they reflect the current form of these Ligue 1 clubs, who are making strong assertions for their ambitions this season. The French Cup is known for its unpredictability, but Marseille and Monaco's performances highlight their preparations and ambitions on the national stage.
Other matches also determined which teams would join them in the Round of 16. Rennes qualified after overcoming Bordeaux with another 4-0 win. Dunkirk also advanced, edging past Auxerre with a narrow 1-0 victory. The weekend’s French Cup matches hint at what is to come as more teams vie for glory and the chance to lift the trophy.
With this strong showing, fans of both Marseille and Monaco have reasons to be optimistic as the tournament progresses. Follow-up matches will certainly test these teams' mettle as they continue their pursuit of the coveted French Cup title.
