Marseille's dismal form continues in 1-1 draw with Nantes
PARIS (AP) - Marseille's miserable home form continued Sunday as it was held 1-1 by mid-table Nantes, while Monaco is level with Lyon in their fight for second place after drawing 1-1 at Rennes.
Marseille is in 16th place and just five points clear of the relegation zone. Monaco and Lyon are battling it out for an automatic place in next season's Champions League.
Monaco led through midfielder Helder Costa's early goal, but Ivory Coast striker Giovanni Sio leveled 10 minutes from time, sparking a frantic finale where Monaco right back Fabinho missed a good chance in injury time.
Lyon, which is second, holds the advantage as it has a much better goal difference and hosts Monaco in the penultimate round of games.
Marseille is the only French club to have won the Champions League, in 1993, but can only qualify for the Europa League by beating Paris Saint-Germain in the French Cup final on May 21.
That looks a long shot, considering that French champion PSG is 27 points clear at the top - with a game in hand - and sits a staggering 45 points ahead of bitter rival Marseille.
Marseille has not won at home since beating Bastia on Sept. 13 - a run of 15 games in the French league. On Sunday, it fell behind in the 31st minute following a mix-up in defense that led to center half Nicolas N'Koulou's own goal.
Winger Florian Thauvin equalized in the 49th, but Marseille's hopes of an elusive home win were hit when midfielder Alaixys Romao was shown a straight red card in the 55th.
"We were on top and we conceded a goal we shouldn't have," Thauvin said. "There is obviously a lack of confidence, since we haven't won at home for so long."
Elsewhere, striker Nolan Roux scored twice as Saint-Etienne beat Lorient 2-0 to climb to fifth place and behind fourth-place Nice on goal difference.
Marseille has been in turmoil for several months and Spanish coach Michel was fired on Tuesday. Fans stayed away in their droves and those that were there jeered the players off at halftime.
Soon after Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi hit the post, rather than passing to the unmarked Thauvin next to him, Nantes took the lead.
As a cross came from the left, N'Koulou and goalkeeper Steve Mandanda both went for it. N'Koulou then ducked, only for the ball to bounce off his back, loop over Mandanda and into the net.
It was the kind of calamitous goal that summed up Marseille's abject season.
"We played poorly, and it's been like that for a while. It's terrible for us and the supporters," midfielder Abou Diaby said. "I must admit that I can't really explain it. I don't know what it's down to."
Thauvin equalized with his second goal of the week, having grabbed the winner on Wednesday against Sochaux in the French Cup semifinals.
But Marseille was soon down to 10 men after Romao was shown a straight red for kicking out at striker Yacine Bammou.
After the match, Nantes coach Michel Der Zakarian said he will leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires.
In other matches, Montpellier moved up to 11th after routing last-place Troyes 4-1 - despite playing with 10 men after defender Vitorino Hilton was sent off in the 40th - while Gazelec Ajaccio moved out of the relegation zone after beating Corsican rival Bastia 3-2. Also, both sides finished with 10 men as Guingamp drew 1-1 with Caen.
On Saturday, PSG beat Lille 2-1 to win the League Cup for a third straight year and remain on course to defend its domestic treble, with only struggling Marseille standing in its way.