The Japan Times - Marseille boost hopes of Champions League return, Monaco suffer heavy defeat

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave Marseille a first-half lead at the Velodrome, and Igor Paixao latched onto a superb Mason Greenwood pass to make it 2-0 early in the second half.

Giorgi Tsitaishvili pulled one back for Metz, who are now 17 league games without a win. Substitute Hamed Junior Traore wrapped up the victory for Marseille in stoppage time.

The victory completed a busy day for the former Champions League winners, after American owner Frank McCourt announced at a press conference the appointment of Stephane Richard as the club's new president.

Richard, 64, is a former CEO of French telecoms giant Orange and will begin the job in July as the permanent successor to Pablo Longoria, the Spaniard who recently departed during a turbulent period for the club.

Friday's result means Marseille have won four and lost three of seven Ligue 1 games since Habib Beye became coach in February, following the sacking of Roberto De Zerbi.

Marseille are 11 points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain, but two points above fourth-placed Lille who visit Toulouse on Sunday -- the top three qualify directly for next season's Champions League while the team in fourth have to win two preliminary round ties to join them.

Monaco are fifth, three points behind Marseille, after a heavy loss in the capital which ended a run of 10 league games without defeat, and seven consecutive wins.

Paris FC were 3-0 up midway through the first half thanks to a double strike by Jonathan Ikone, either side of a goal from veteran Italian striker Ciro Immobile.

- Balogun scores, Pogba plays -

United States national team star Folarin Balogun pulled one back before the break for Monaco, keeping up his remarkable recent scoring record.

Balogun has scored in each of his team's last seven Ligue 1 matches and has nine goals in nine games in all competitions.

The former Arsenal frontman has 17 goals in total this season and his form is encouraging for Mauricio Pochettino's US side as they prepare for the World Cup on home soil.

However, his efforts here were in vain as American-born Luca Koleosho's superb second-half strike secured the biggest win of the season for Paris FC.

The club who won promotion to Ligue 1 at the end of the last campaign off the back of a takeover by the mega-rich Arnault family are unbeaten in six games under new coach Antoine Kombouare and their top-flight survival looks assured.

The defeat is a setback for Monaco, who saw Paul Pogba appear as a second-half substitute.

As well as losing ground on Marseille, both Lyon and Rennes behind them are within two points. Monaco could finish the weekend as low as seventh -- that position may not be enough to qualify for any European competition next season.

Pogba came on in the 69th minute and the midfield star of the France team that won the World Cup in 2018 was given a rapturous reception by the crowd of 16,520 as he made just his fourth appearance for Monaco and his first since December.

"It was heartwarming," Pogba said of his reception. "I am just trying to get some minutes under my belt and get back to full fitness. It will come with time."

Leaders PSG's match against title rivals Lens scheduled for Saturday was postponed until next month to allow them to rest in between the two legs of their Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool.

K.Okada--JT