Nice stops Marseille going: undefeated in Ligue 1 since October, OM fell against “Gym” on Sunday (3-1), letting Lens come back on their heels, neutralized in Brest (1-1) and Monaco, relentless in Clermont (2-0). Another interrupted series: Angers finally reacted after 13 defeats in a row!
– And Nice brought down OM… –
Irresistible for weeks, Igor Tudor’s OM ended up giving in on Sunday evening in front of an eleven from Nice in full rebound with their new coach Didier Digard, and who offered themselves in quick succession Lens (1-0) Wednesday then the OM Sunday at the end of the 22nd day.
In a match of rare intensity, worthy of the Champions League at times, the “Gym” proved to be the most effective, taking advantage of two poorly repelled strikes by Marseille goalkeeper Pau Lopez to score from close range by Sofiane Diop ( 38th) and Gaëtan Laborde (44th).
Then, while Ruslan Malinovskyi had maintained Marseille hopes (60th), Billal Brahimi took charge of showering the Vélodrome against (85th), replacing Nice in 8th place (34 pts).
Incidentally, the duel from a distance between the Nice rookie Terem Moffi, behind the second goal, and the Marseille reinforcement Vitinha, very discreet and replaced at the break, turned in favor of the Nigerian, more accustomed it is true to games of the L1.
This stoppage leaves Marseille in second place (46 pts) but now tied on points with Lens (46 pts) and under threat from Monaco (44 pts). Paris SG (1st, 54 pts), he takes the lead before coming to challenge OM on Wednesday in the Coupe de France.
– Lens ensures the minimum, Monaco eyeing the podium –
Lens is content with one point: four days after falling (1-0) against Nice, the RCL failed to win in Brest, Jonathan Gradit (83rd) having responded to Jérémy Le Douaron (54th).
Franck Haise’s team has a third match without a win in L1, even if OM’s result in the evening is the lesser evil.
“I know it will go back to the right side, we have to continue to believe in what we are doing,” reacted Lensois coach Franck Haise.
The Sang et Or team (3rd, 46 pts) sees Monaco (4th, 44 pts) returning in its wake, which easily disposed of Clermont thanks to Guillermo Maripan (3rd) and Breel Embolo (13th).
Philippe Clement’s team has 32 consecutive L1 days with at least one goal scored and is moving forward with full confidence before challenging PSG next Saturday.
– Lorient at a standstill, end of the Angers spiral –
The spectacular Lorient transfer window, for the time being, is not yet bearing fruit.
After a 4-2 defeat in Reims on Wednesday, Les Merlus followed up with a frustrating draw (0-0) against bottom side Angers, despite the first start of their recruits Bamba Dieng, Jean-Victor Makengo and Romain Faivre.
Lorient remains seventh (36 pts) while for Angers, this draw is a relief: its record series of defeats in L1 stopped at 13 consecutive losses.
The SCO remains last (9 pts), but finally took a small point, for the first time since September!
– Strasbourg is released at home –
In Alsace too, the curse ended: Strasbourg won at home this season: thanks to a double from Habib Diallo (1st, 45th + 1) and despite an hour outnumbered, Racing ended its long drought at La Meinau at the expense of Montpellier (2-0).
A relief for the team coached by Mathieu Le Scornet, still relegated (17th, 18 pts) but who are only two lengths behind a plummeting MHSC (15th, 20 pts).
For its part, Auxerre (19th, 14 pts) could not do better than a 0-0 draw against Reims but, at least, put an end to its black series of seven consecutive defeats in L1.
And Ajaccio (18th, 18 pts) lost 2-0 at home against Nantes, on goals from Evann Guessand (64th) and Ludovic Blas (88th from the penalty spot).
