The China Mail - De Zerbi living his best life as Marseille go top of Ligue 1

Marseille have 15 points and lead champions Paris Saint-Germain and surprise packages Lyon on goal difference with the latter two still to play in the seventh round.

Metz parked the bus in the first half but Marseille poured forward in the second half with Brazilian dynamo Igor Paixao breaking the deadlock on 51 minutes while Matt O'Riley on 69 and Amine Gouiri on 71 secured the three points.

"These are the kind of matches we were losing last year, we've matured and the team is much stronger now," said de Zerbi. "I'm very happy."

"This is my best period since I took over Marseille," said the Italian coach who joined from Brighton in June 2024 and led OM to runner-up spot last season.

Marseille had a rocky start to the season with a dressing room fight after an opening day slump paved the way for star player Adrien Rabiot to be transfer listed and join AC Milan.

De Zerbi described the altercation between Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe as being like a bar room brawl.

Before Saturday's romp over bottom side metz they beat Ajax 4-0 in the Champions Leagiue after wins over PSG and Strasbourg in Ligue 1.

Marseille also climbed top briefly last Friday after their 2-1 come from behind win at Strasbourg.

Marseille are waiting for their 10th Ligue 1 title, and a first since 2010, while PSG have won the last four.

Q.Moore--ThChM