Marseille defeated Nice 2-0 on Saturday evening in the highly anticipated first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal match at Stade Velodrome.
The French giants dominated from the start and took control of the game with a well-executed counterattack. Marseille's attacking midfielder, Antoine Griezmann, broke through on goal in the 14th minute, scoring his second goal of the season after receiving a pass from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Nice had a chance to equalize early on when substitute Moussa Dembélé was put through on goal by Nabil Fekir. However, he squandered it, failing to convert his opportunity.
Marseille continued to dominate the second half, with Griezmann adding another goal in the 58th minute after receiving a cross from Olivier Giroud. This gave Marseille a commanding lead that they would not relinquish.
The result means Marseille now have two points more than Lyon, who are currently in third place in the league table. They will face Lyon in the second leg of their semi-final next weekend.
The win also gives Marseille a better position in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers, as they are currently fifth in the group stage. If they can maintain their form, they could potentially qualify for the competition.
Overall, this victory is a major boost for Marseille and puts them in prime position for the Champions League final. The team will look forward to facing Lyon in the second leg and trying to secure their place in the European Cup.