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In-form Marseille closes in on PSG with Monaco win
Second-placed OM, who still has a game in hand, prevailed thanks to early goals by Florian Thauvin and Dario Benedetto as the club moved onto 27 points from 12 games.
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Marseille's French goalkeeper Steve Mandanda (right) makes a save during the French L1 soccer match between Olympique de Marseille (OM) and AS Monaco at the Velodrome Stadium in Marseille, southeastern France, on Saturday.
(AFP/Clement Mahoudeau)
O
lympique de Marseille extended its Ligue 1 winning run to six games as the club cut Paris St Germain's lead at the top to one point with a clinical 2-1 home won over AS Monaco on Saturday.
Second-placed OM, who still has a game in hand, prevailed thanks to early goals by Florian Thauvin and Dario Benedetto as the club moved onto 27 points from 12 games.
Monaco, who had won four of its last five matches and reduced the arrears through a late penalty from Wissam Ben Yedder, is fifth on 23 points from 14 games.
Montpellier moved up to fifth on 26 points from 14 games courtesy of a 3-2 win at RC Lens, Gaetan Laborde scoring the winner after the host had rallied from 2-0 down.
At the Stade Velodrome, Monaco enjoyed more possession but Marseille was brutally efficient, scoring with its two attempts on target in the first half.
Thauvin headed home from Benedetto's cross in the fifth minute to give Andre Villas-Boas's side a perfect start.
Thauvin returned the favor eight minutes later, delivering a perfect cross for the Argentine, who volleyed home to double the advantage.
OM, however, was then too passive and had a couple of superb Steve Mandanda saves to thank for reaching the interval with a two-goal lead.
Monaco continued to push in the second half and were rewarded 11 minutes from time when Ben Yedder converted a penalty after being fouled in the box by Thauvin.
Ben Yedder has now scored seven goals in Ligue 1, including four penalties.
"It's a very, very important win for us. We had an outstanding first half," said Marseille coach Andre Villas-Boas.
"We want to stay up here. We were hoping to get a maximum of points before the winter break. We already have taken three. Twelve will be tough but if we can get eight or nine it would be great."
On Sunday, PSG entertains fourth-placed Olympique Lyonnais, who is two points behind the leader, while Lille, who also has 26 points in third, welcome mid-table Girondins Bordeaux.
