The four pro northern clubs in football achieved an unprecedented grand slam on Friday and Saturday. Dunkirk in National, Valenciennes in Ligue 2, Lens and Lille in Ligue 1 have all won. Precious successes that allow them to almost validate their objectives. And above all to offer a lot of happiness to their supporters in a completely crazy end to the season.
After Friday evening in the scent of Ligue 2, that of Saturday smelled good of Europe. Friday, Dunkirk ensured its return to Ligue 2 thanks to its victory (2-3) at Le Mans. While Valenciennes took a big step towards maintaining it by winning 1-0 against Grenoble in a packed Hainaut stadium.
The performance of the USLD is perhaps the most commendable. Because before the change of coach at the beginning of the year (Mathieu Chabert succeeds Romain Revelli), Dunkirk began to ogle towards maintenance. Since then, the USLD has had a string of victories, with Martigues as the only failure. Before going to conquer the precious ticket with a success at Le Mans (2-3), after going through all the colors of the rainbow.
The sacred union in Valenciennes
In Valenciennes, it was the sacred union for the maintenance. In a full Hainaut stadium, which had not happened since the days of Ligue 1, the Hénuiers snatched the victory against Grenoble 1-0, thanks to a goal from the providential man, Mohamed Kaba, in the 57th minute. The VAFC is not yet assured of its maintenance, from an accounting point of view. But he in any case his destiny in his hands before going to Saint-Etienne on Friday, with already a comfortable capital of 45 points and 2 ahead of the first relegation player, Laval.
We can therefore hope for the presence of two northern clubs next season in Ligue 2 football.
On Saturday, the bar was set much higher for Lens and Lille. A direct qualification in the Champions League for the Sang et Or. A jump seat for the Conference Europa League or the Europa League for the Mastiffs.
Bollaert’s crazy evening
In a 25th match in a row played to sold-out crowds, RC Lens definitively secured 2nd place in the championship, by pulverizing the already relegated Ajaccio in the first half. 3-0 at rest in a delirious stadium with three goals from Machado (16th), Thomasson (22nd) and Openda from the penalty spot (35th). The RCL will be content to manage this advantage in the second half in the middle of the chants. Before celebrating the event with the public in ecstasy.
The players of Franck Haise ensure the direct qualification of RC Lens in the Champions League, a first for twenty years. This is the 17th home success of the season for the Sang et Or, who will go to Auxerre with peace of mind next week to conclude their magnificent season. And who will once again celebrate this return to Europe in a Bollaert-Delelis stadium which will be open for the occasion.
“We are a club that can and must play in Europe, we are delighted, aware of where we come from, we remain humble and we work a lot”, confide to the mediahe discreet Lensois president Joseph Oughourlian. “We demonstrated that tonight and throughout the season. We have a great audience and team. »The boss of the RCL was thus entitled to his “chicotage”. It was indeed he who launched the song of victory with the kop after the match.
Words confirmed by Franck Haise and Loïs Openda in front of the media and social networks.
4th place for LOSC
LOSC ended this great evening of football for the northern clubs with a 2-1 victory against FC Nantes. A victory much more laborious, and even happy. Lille was indeed led after a tasteless first half by the canaries, following a goal from Quentin Merlin at the 18th minute.
But the Mastiffs will get away with it anyway thanks to two, or even three penalties, in the second half. jonathan david equalizes without difficulty on the first in the 51st minute. But he sees the second stopped by Alban Lafont in the 85th after a penalty awarded by the VAR. But here again, LOSC will benefit from the video, which saw that the Nantes goalkeeper did not have his feet on his line.
As a result, David is given another chance. The Canadian shoots this 3rd penalty in the same way, from the inside of the right foot. But this time, he deceives Lafont. Despite a great Nantes chance saved by Chevalier, LOSC won on two penalties with once again as saviors jonathan david et Lucas Chevalier.
This happy victory (2-1) even allows Lille to move up to 4th place in the standings, because Monaco lost to Rennes 2-0. This totally justified the traditional pyrotechnic show established for several years after the last game of the season at home. The 41,163 spectators present were able to celebrate their players one last time. And among them, players who will certainly leave like the emblematic captain José Fonte.
The northern football clubs therefore succeed in the grand slam during this last weekend of May. Two unforgettable evenings which enabled Lens, Lille, Valenciennes and Dunkirk to achieve their goal.
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