PLAYER RATINGS | Monaco 3-0 Marseille: Les Monégasques dominate Marseille to retake second spot | OneFootball

Monaco completed a dominant win over Marseille to rise to second and boost their Champions League hopes thanks to goals from Takumi Minamino, Breel Embolo, and Denis Zakaria.THE MATCH

It was built up to be a game of Champions League proportions on Saturday, with Marseille only sitting two points ahead of hosts Monaco going into the affair. Roberto De Zerbi surprised most by starting Rowe instead of Neal Maupay.

Under the rare Monegasque clouds, Marseille would start the game the brighter of the two sides with a lot of possession in the opening phases, with De Zerbi’s changes looking to galvanise OM in an attacking sense. But Les Monegasques would see out the opening periods relatively unscathed as Adi Hütter’s men settled into the affair.

After a relative period of calm in the first period it would be the hosts that opened the scoring after Kondogbia was nowhere near strong enough to hold off a driving run by Breel Embolo. The Swiss would set up Mika Biereth for two shots on goal saved by the Argentine, but the ball would find its way out wide to Minamino who finished into an open net. Luis Henrique had a wonderful opportunity to level the score when a cross from Merlin fell perfectly at his feet, but his strike towards the far post kissed the post on the way out. A huge chance for Marseille to level just before half-time, but Monaco would go into the break with the goal lead.

Adi Hütter’s men started the second half brightly, threatening through a string of set pieces to set an offensive tone. Marseille would then respond on the transition with Rowe’s pace and a chance at the near post for Greenwood. Akliouche then had a major chance to volley ASM ahead, if it wasn’t for Rulli’s outstretched hand at the near post. Les Monegasques had been knocking on the door, and it was Breel Embolo who slotted the ball underneath Rulli after Vanderson provided the through ball. After a lengthy VAR check, Luis Henrqiue was found to be playing onside the Swiss international. Amine Gouiri, Ismaël Bennacer, and Amar Dedic would make their entry to try and get OM back into the game.

But Monaco kept on putting on the pressure and they managed to extend their lead when Amar Dedic’s clearance put the ball up in the air rather than out. Rulli would then foul Embolo whilst running back to his own goal, and Zakaria stepped up to convert the penalty.AS MONACO PLAYER RATINGS

Philip Köhn – 7

Vanderson – 6

Caio Henrique – 5

Wilfried Singo – 6

Denis Zakaria – 5

Maghnes Akliouche – 5

Lamine Camara – 5

Mika Biereth – 5

Takumi Minamino – 6

Breel Embolo – 7

A huge physical presence for Les Monegasques, and caused trouble all game long behind Mika Biereth. His bursting run was vital in outmuscling Kondogbia for the first goal for the hosts, before he would get on the scoresheet himself with a perfectly-timed run-in-behind and a calm finish underneath Geronimo Rulli. He then won the penalty for Monaco’s third goal of the afternoon.OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLEGeronimo Rulli – 6

Quentin Merlin – 5

Ulisses Garcia – 5

Michael Amir Murillo – 5

Geoffrey Kondogbia – 3

Valentin Rongier – 5

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 5

Adrien Rabiot – 5

Mason Greenwood – 3

After his stunning goal against Toulouse last weekend Greenwood returned to a quiet and frankly ineffective performance against Monaco. His intensity and pressing was non-existent and his driving runs were easily snuffed out in the first half. The second half mirrored much of his general play in the last few weeks, saved only by a sensational moment of individual brilliance with his strike against Toulouse.

Jonathan Rowe – 4

Luis Henrique – 3

A hugely disappointing performance from the Brazilian who is attracting interest from all over Europe at the moment. There seemed to be a lack of focus on the ball and it translated into his finishing ability in front of goal. An open net, and his strike missed by mere centimetres seemed to sum up a frustrating afternoon.GFFN | George Boxall & Luke Entiwstle – Reporting from Stade Louis II, Monaco.