Greenwood Scores and Assists as Marseille Wins at Rennes to Close Gap on Leader PSG

Marseille's Mason Greenwood runs with the ball during the French League One soccer match between Rennes and Marseille in Rennes, France, Saturday Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mathieu Pattier)

Mason Greenwood scored and set up a goal for Adrien Rabiot as Marseille won at Rennes 2-1 to move four points behind Ligue 1 leader Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday.
A fourth win in five league games also moved second-placed Marseille five points ahead of third-placed Monaco after 17 rounds.
But PSG can restore its seven-point lead if it beats struggling Saint-Etienne at home on Sunday.
Greenwood's 11th league goal came moments before halftime and he then curled a cross onto the head of Rabiot early into the second half.
The first half was even.
Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli made a superb save from Arnaud Kalimuendo's penalty in the 32nd minute.
The penalty was given following a video review and seemed harsh on defender Amir Murillo. He was judged to have handled the ball, even though he was unsighted when it fell onto his arm when contesting an aerial challenge.
Rulli saved his third spot kick of the season as he dived to his right at full stretch and tipped the ball onto the post.
Kalimuendo made up for it in the 43rd when he swept in a cross from right back Lorenz Assignon.
But Marseille is proving hard to beat under coach Roberto De Zerbi and hit straight back when Greenwood converted Panama international Murillo's right-wing cross.
Then, in the 49th, Greenwood broke down the right and Rabiot headed his pinpoint cross past his France teammate Brice Samba, who started in the Rennes goal after joining from Lens.
Meanwhile, Gaëtan Laborde scored twice to help Nice win at Reims 4-2 and move up to fourth place.
The burly striker netted with a penalty just before halftime and added his second goal midway through the second half.
Nice moved one point ahead of fifth-placed Lille and two clear of sixth-placed Lyon, which lost to Brest 2-1.
Nice's other goals came from forward Evann Guessand and defender Ali Abdi, while Japan winger Junya Ito and 19-year-old striker Mamadou Diakhon scored for Reims.
Earlier, Lyon found itself 2-0 down at Brest inside 25 minutes.
Mahdi Camara put the home side ahead early and set up striker Ludovic Ajorque with a neat backheel.
Midfielder Jordan Veretout pulled a goal back for Lyon in first-half stoppage time and teammate Corentin Tolisso had an equalizer ruled out moments later for offside.