After the irrational Parisian rout on Saturday in Nantes, the good draw brought back by Lyon to Lens or the explosive Lille-Metz where Frédéric Antonetti and Sylvain Armand came to blows, following the 25th day of Ligue 1 with many meetings in the program.
The good move: Nice clings to the podium
In the heights of the Championship, the battle rages between Nice and Marseille, who are vying weekend following weekend for the place of runner-up to PSG. If the Olympians were sure to keep it even before playing Clermont this Sunday evening (8:45 p.m.), the Aiglons did what was necessary to put Jorge Sampaoli’s players under pressure. Tombeuse of Angers (1-0), the band of Christophe Galtier confirms that we will have to count on it until the end.
In form in recent weeks, Justin Kluivert has beaten Danijel Petkovic’s (18th) hazardous outing for his 5th goal of the season (3 in L1, 2 in the Coupe de France), and allowed Nice to resume their march forward following two reverse. OM are temporarily only one length away. Angers, who lost Jimmy Cabot to injury (5th), stalled in 13th place following a fourth consecutive defeat.
The player: Guirassy, happy holder
Barred by a Laborde-Terrier duo who are working like crazy this season (12 goals each), more accustomed to chomping at the bit for 70 minutes before entering than to start in the Rennes attack, Serhou Guirassy had his chance this Saturday once morest Troyes (4-1). Holder for the first time in Ligue 1 since September 19, the usual luxury substitute seized it with a bang, with a double in six minutes (14th, 20th). His second of the season, following that registered once morest Bordeaux (6-0). Rennes (5th), which had lost 6 of its last 9 Ligue 1 games (3 wins), is reassured in the wake of its 25-year-old striker. Who does what it takes to scratch more playing time.
The spectacular draw: Strasbourg residents in artificer mode
What an attacking festival offers Strasbourg this season, second attack in the Championship behind Paris (48 goals) and the only team in the five major championships with Manchester City to have four different players with at least 7 goals (Ajorque, Gameiro, Diallo and Thomasson). Moving on the lawn of Stéphanois in good shape, on a reassuring series of three consecutive victories, the Alsatians saw Habib Diallo strike once more, and score his 9th goal of the season (1-1, 23rd). Strasbourg (4th) was ultimately unable to bring back better than a draw in a somewhat crazy match (2-2), but returned to three points from the podium and from Nice. Thanks to Riyad Boudebouz on an indirect free kick (1-0, 4th) and a well-placed Wahbi Khazri (2-2, 34th), the Greens of Pascal Dupraz temporarily go back to 16th place, more and more consistent in their maintenance mission .
The hard blow: Reims loses Ekitike
For Reims, what to remember from this followingnoon: this point obtained by whipping once morest the catchy Brestois (1-1), or the injury of Hugo Ekitike? Unfortunately, probably the second option, as the young striker (19 years old) is essential this season. The French international U20 was already at 9 goals, but had to give up his place following probably slamming his thigh on a shot that hit the post of Marco Bizot (13th).
The Rémois, who already had nine absent at kick-off, really didn’t need that. Without Ekitike, and following the opener from Woud Faes (1-0, 4th), they finally conceded the equalizer from the promising Martin Satriano (1-1, 34th). On loan from Inter Milan to Brest, the Uruguayan striker scored 3 goals in one week. The day might have turned into a nightmare without the double save of Predrag Rajković on a penalty from Youcef Belaïli (53rd). The Rémois (14th) had already had enough of the loss of their home scorer.
The first: David Guion on the Bordeaux bench
Few technicians would dream of training the Girondins de Bordeaux in the current state of affairs. It is however the task which falls to David Guion, who came to replace Vladimir Petkovic, half of his functions two weeks ago. The former coach of Reims arrives at the red lantern of Ligue 1 and experienced his big first this Sunday once morest Monaco (1-1). In front of their public, the Girondins displayed a rather attractive face, especially in the first period. Rémi Oudin took advantage of the good work of Yacine Adli on the left to score with a nice volley from the left. Reduced to 10 following the expulsion of Tchouaméni, the Monegasques are at this moment trapped in the Bordeaux rut.
But this season, nothing is going in favor of Aquitaine. On a strike from Gelson Martins, Anel Ahmedhodžić heads back to… Marcelo who deceives his own goalkeeper. A goal gag in the image of the season of the Girondins. David Guion’s players pushed to the end to force the decision, without success. A rather encouraging draw in terms of content but which is not of much use in terms of accounting. Bordeaux remains stuck in last place in Ligue 1.
The number: 3
With a cannon shot from the right (0-1, 56th), Téji Savanier did a lot of good in Montpellier, which ended a dirty spiral of 3 consecutive defeats in all competitions on the lawn of Lorient. The Héraultais take advantage of this to go up to 9th place, and not to let the European wagon slip away too far.
