The battle to close the gap on Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain intensified but proved fruitless on Saturday, as Marseille, Monaco, and Lille all dropped points in a day of stalemates. Marseille hosted Lille at the Velodrome, where the two sides played out a 1-1 draw. Quentin Merlin put the hosts ahead in the 17th minute before Bafode Diakite equalised for Lille. The result kept Marseille second in the league table, narrowly ahead of Monaco on goal difference, with both teams trailing PSG by four points.
Monaco, hoping to capitalise, were held to a goalless draw at Reims later in the evening. Lille remained three points behind the duo in fourth after the draw. Elsewhere, Lens climbed to sixth, coming from behind twice to draw 2-2 at Auxerre. Despite the dropped points, Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi remained optimistic.
Lille coach Bruno Genesio echoed similar sentiments but expressed frustration. De Zerbi, reflecting on Marseille’s progress, added: “We’ve revolutionised everything. Unlike Lille and Monaco, who’ve been building for years, we’re still finding our footing. It takes time.” Monaco manager Adi Huetter, too, rued missed opportunities after their stalemate with Reims. “We missed out on two points and a great opportunity to move up to second place, so we’re not happy,” said the Austrian coach.
Meanwhile, Saint-Etienne’s struggles continued with a 2-1 defeat at Toulouse on Friday. The loss prompted the sacking of coach Olivier Dall’Oglio, making him the third Ligue 1 manager to lose his job this season. Laurent Huard, director of the club’s training centre, has been named interim coach.
PSG will aim to extend their lead at the top of the table on Sunday as they face an in-form Lyon side. Amid the on-pitch action, off-pitch developments are stirring significant interest, as reports from France suggest Olympique Marseille is exploring potential signings to bolster their squad.
One notable name being linked with Marseille is Paul Pogba, who has recently been embroiled in controversy due to his doping ban. Following the reduction of his suspension from four years to 18 months on appeal, Pogba is expected to terminate his contract with Juventus and is now considering his next steps. Reports indicate Marseille has held initial talks with Pogba’s entourage, paving the way for what could be a remarkable comeback for the midfielder.
“Juventus have made it fairly clear they see Pogba as a spent force,” said sources close to the discussions. “It means he would be able to return to training from January and be back on the field in competitive matches by March.” Meanwhile, Pogba is also eyeing offers from clubs across Major League Soccer.
While the whispers of Pogba joining Marseille make headlines, the Phocaean club also recently completed another significant signing. Adrien Rabiot, the talented French international, signed with Olympique Marseille this summer after leaving Juventus. This decision raised eyebrows across Europe, especially considering Rabiot’s talent and background as a PSG-trained player.
Reflecting on his decision to join Marseille, Rabiot noted, “It happened in the final moments; were there discussions before? No, there were no discussions beforehand.” The timing and choice of joining OM took many by surprise, but it could signal Marseille’s ambition on the transfer market.
With these potential signings and current squad performance, Olympique Marseille is positioning itself as both a competitive force and attractive destination for top talents. The recent draws may have dimmed their hopes for immediate titles, but added resources like Pogba and Rabiot can bolster their campaign moving forward.
The interplay of current performances and transfer strategies paints an intriguing picture as Marseille navigates the Ligue 1 season with ambitions not only to catch PSG but to establish itself firmly among the upper echelon of French football.
