Mason Greenwood scored twice to continue his impressive form as Marseille secured a dominant 5-1 victory over Nice on Friday, propelling them to the top of Ligue 1.
With these goals, Greenwood reached a remarkable total of eight in his last five league matches, bringing his season tally to 11.
Additional contributions from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, US international Timothy Weah, and Igor Paixão ensured Roberto De Zerbi’s team celebrated bragging rights in the Riviera derby.
This win placed Marseille at 28 points, one ahead of defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, who will face Le Havre on Saturday.
Aubameyang netted the opening goal in the 11th minute, thanks in part to a set-up by France World Cup winner Benjamin Pavard.
Nice goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf deflected Pavard’s header for a corner, and the defender responded by meeting the subsequent inswinging kick, allowing Aubameyang to redirect it into the net.
This marked the veteran striker’s 400th career goal.
Greenwood extended the lead to 2-0 with a well-placed shot that deflected off a defender and caught Diouf off guard.
The goal was confirmed after a VAR review for a potential foul in the buildup, leading to tensions flaring on the pitch and in the stands, resulting in a delay of several minutes.
Despite the chaos, Marseille maintained their intensity.
Greenwood scored again eight minutes into the second half, driving a low shot into the bottom corner from just outside the penalty area.
He now boasts 31 goals in Ligue 1 across two seasons—eight more than any other player during that timeframe.
Weah then added to Nice’s troubles before Mohammed-Ali Cho netted a consolation goal for the home side with a header in the 63rd minute.
However, the outstanding Aubameyang assisted Brazilian Paixão for Marseille’s fifth goal 16 minutes from the end.
Nice remains in ninth place in Ligue 1.
This report incorporates information from The Associated Press, PA, and ESPN Research.