Led 1-0 to Geoffroy-Guichard, Marseille, the best away team in Ligue 1, lived up to its reputation and managed to reverse the situation (2-4). Monaco, again 6th, is once again looking up the rankings, thanks to its convincing victory in Metz (2-1). Nantes continued their march forward thanks to their success at Clermont 3-2, at the end of the most unbridled match of the day.
At the bottom of the ranking, it’s almost the status quo. All the teams concerned by the maintenance lost, except Troyes who garnered three points in extremis against Reims in Aube (1-0).
OM impose themselves as a true runner-up
Saint-Étienne had opened the scoring early by Bouanga following a ball from Pau Lopez, the Marseille goalkeeper (1-0, 9th), but against the PSG dolphin, the Greens, over time, had to put their maintenance operation on hold, for an afternoon.
Ultra realistic as usual, OM equalized through the essential Dimitri Payet, scorer on penalty just before the break (1-1, 45th + 2). Incidentally, Payet scored his 10th goal of the season (for his 26th game), his best total since playing at OM. His absolute best total remaining 13 in the jersey of… Saint-Étienne.
After the break, Jorge Sampaoli’s team unfolded, well helped by a spectacular goal against their own side from Kolodziejzac (1-2, 60th), then two great achievements, signed Dieng on penalty (1-3, 68th) and Harit (1-4, 73rd). The reduction in the score signed Gourna-Douath with a nice shot from 20m (2-4, 86th) added to the show but did not change the case.
Monaco lives again in Lorraine
Fairly quiet winner at the Saint-Symphorien stadium, Monaco, new 6th, is relaunching in the race for a place in a (small) European Cup. Inspired and surgical, Wissam Ben Yedder did not miss the opportunity to open the scoring with a crossed ball in the small net of Caillard (0-1, 46th). Joined on Saturday by Terrier, Ben Yedder alone takes the lead in the scorers’ rankings with 18 goals. Amadou’s Messin equalizer (1-1, 63rd) only pushed back the deadline for the penultimate player in Ligue 1, weighed down by a goal from Boadu, who had already been denied a goal for an offside centimeter (1-2, 72nd).
Nantes picks up the bet
The Gabriel-Montpied stadium in Clermont-Ferrand was the scene of the most lively part of the afternoon, but, alas for the Auvergne supporters, the Canaries emerged victorious from the chase with Pascal’s team Bastien, beside himself and finally expelled from his bench.
Led 1-0, then 2-1, the valiant Clermontois equalized twice, Khaoui (1-1, 58th) and Abdul Samed (2-2, 63rd) responding to goals from Blas (0-1 on penalty, 43rd) and Chirivella (1-2, 62nd). However, the promoted had to capitulate on a goal from the inevitable Kolo Muani, with a right-footed recovery at the far post (67th).
Troyes takes a step towards maintaining
Of all the teams fighting to maintain, only Troyes did the right thing by snatching victory against Reims. The Champenois, reduced to 10 per hour of play, had put themselves in defensive mode and we were heading towards a goalless draw when Renaud Ripart appeared in additional time, sealing the Aube success with a sequence of control of the chest – shot from the right from 6 m (1-0, 90th + 3).
Brest surprises Montpellier
The “soft bellies” match, between 11th and 13th in the championship, seemed to get bogged down in the first period, for lack of motivation. But nothing happened and Brest won in Hérault a success of esteem thanks to its scorers Satriano (0-1, 4th) and Honorat (1-2, 79th), while the MHSC reduced the scored by Savanier on penalty in added time (1-2, 90th + 4).
