Mason Greenwood made an impressive impact on his debut for Marseille on Saturday, scoring two goals as Roberto De Zerbi’s revamped team secured a commanding 5-1 victory against Brest in the opening match of the Ligue 1 season. The former Manchester United forward wasted no time making his mark, finding the back of the net just three minutes into the game. He then added another goal from the penalty spot in the 30th minute, following a second goal from his teammate Luis Henrique, thereby helping to establish a strong 3-0 lead for the visitors.
Luis Henrique was continuing to make his presence felt as he scored yet again after Mahdi Camara managed to reduce Brest’s deficit with a crunching strike that brought the score to 3-1 just before halftime. Greenwood was instrumental in both of the Brazilian’s goals, showcasing his ability to contribute not only as a goal scorer but also as a key playmaker on the pitch.
As the game progressed, Greenwood earned a second penalty for Marseille after being fouled by Jordan Amavi, however, it was Elye Wahi, another of Marseille’s recent signings, who stepped up to successfully convert the spot-kick. Greenwood’s performance highlighted his potential impact on the Marseille squad throughout the season.
The 22-year-old Greenwood joined Marseille last month from Old Trafford, where he had previously started his career with great promise. However, his journey took a significant turn when he was suspended in January 2022 due to serious allegations of attempted rape and sexual assault. Those charges were later dropped by prosecutors in February 2023. Following this turbulent period, Greenwood spent the last season loaned out to Getafe in Spain. Despite his on-field talent, his signing has faced criticism from some Marseille fans and members of the community, including the city’s left-wing mayor, Benoit Payan, who have expressed their discontent over the decision to bring him to the club.
Greenwood was part of a larger overhaul within the Marseille squad, as he was one of five new additions to the team’s lineup. Joining him were Argentine goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, Canadian defender Derek Cornelius, Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and Elye Wahi, who was signed from Lens just a few days before this match. Rulli, who had been an unused member of Argentina’s successful squads in both the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America, also enjoyed an eventful debut. He made a crucial save early in the match, denying Romain Del Castillo from the penalty spot after moving to Marseille from Ajax last weekend.
Roberto De Zerbi, the former Brighton manager, took the reins at Marseille in June after a tumultuous previous season at the Velodrome. He promised to implement sweeping changes following a campaign that saw the club cycle through three different coaches and ultimately fail to secure European qualification. Meanwhile, Brest had enjoyed their best-ever finish in the league last season, achieving a commendable third place. However, they faced a disappointing start to the new campaign, as several key players have departed the club, coupled with injuries and suspensions among the remaining squad members.
On the same day, Monaco, who were the runners-up last season, were set to face Saint-Etienne, who are making their return to the top flight after a two-year absence. In related news, Lille, who reached the Champions League play-offs earlier in the week, kicked off their season away at Reims. Additionally, Paris Saint-Germain started their title defense strongly with a convincing 4-1 victory against Le Havre in their first match since the departure of star player Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid. Lee Kang-in opened the scoring for PSG, only for Gautier Lloris to equalize. However, late goals from Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola, and a penalty by Randal Kolo Muani ultimately secured a resounding win for the reigning French champions.
