Marseille, the defending Ligue 1 champions, have secured their place in the Champions League by beating Nice 1-0 in round 31 of the French top-flight. The victory means that Marseille now has just two points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain and four points ahead of second-placed Monaco.
The match was played at Stade Vélodrome and saw both teams play with great intensity throughout the game. Marseille dominated possession for much of the first half but were unable to find the back of the net until the 78th minute when they were awarded a penalty following a handball by Nice defender Benjamin Mendy.
French striker Dimitri Payet stepped up to take the spot-kick and sent the ball past Nice goalkeeper Steve Mandanda into the bottom corner of the goal. It was a well-deserved win for Marseille who had been struggling in recent weeks.
With only two games remaining in the season, Marseille now have a chance to secure their place in the Champions League next season. They will need to win both of their remaining matches against Nice and Rennes to be certain of qualifying. However, if they can do so, it would be a huge achievement for the club and their fans.
For Nice, this defeat is a major blow as they continue to struggle towards securing a spot in Europe's elite competition. With only one point separating them from the relegation zone, the team will be looking to bounce back in their final two fixtures.
Overall, this was a crucial result for Marseille who have now clinched their place in the Champions League. It is a testament to their hard work and determination over the course of the season. However, there is still plenty of football left to play and it remains to be seen whether Nice can turn things around in their remaining fixtures.