A rather easy qualification for Monaco, more difficult for Nice, Nantes and Rennes… Find the tops and flops of French clubs in the Europa League/Conference.
TOPS
4/4 for French clubs
The performances were not necessarily exceptional, but the most important thing is elsewhere: all the French clubs qualified for the rest of their competition. Monaco and Nantes opened the evening with two victories (4-1 for ASM against Red Star Belgrade and 0-2 for Nantes against Olympiakos). Then, Rennes and Nice both ended in a draw (1-1 against Larnaca for the Bretons and 2-2 against Cologne for the Aiglons) sufficient to continue the European adventure.
Kevin Volland for the hat-trick
The German striker was preferred to Breel Embolo to support Wissam Ben Yedder on the attacking front. And it is clear that it was a good choice on the part of the Monegasque coach, Philippe Clement. Kevin Volland scored a hat-trick, a headed goal, another with the right foot, the last with the left foot. Complete, clean and efficient.
Schmeichel, l’ange gardien
What a performance from Kasper Schmeichel tonight. If Nice qualified, it was largely thanks to their goalkeeper. Even if the Aiglons conceded two goals, including one where the Danish goalkeeper is not exempt from any reproach (48th, 1-2), we can not blame him so much he was precious. The former Leicester goalkeeper has multiplied the stops, including three crucial (7th, 27th, 48th) to keep his team alive.
FLOPS
Low quality match for Nantes
So certainly, the (historic) qualification of Nantes remains the most important point of this evening. But when we analyze the match, the performance is almost a feat. Olympiakos did not besiege the Nantes goal, but the Canaries had a terrible time getting out of their half of the field, whether in the first or second period. However solid defensively, Alban Lafont’s teammates were effective in the last moments of the match. Mostafa Mohamed places a powerful header on a good serve from Ludovic Blas (79th, 0-1) before returning the favor with a superb backheel (90th, 0-2).
The second periods of Nice and Rennes
How laborious it was. Rennes were not on the brink, but there was a real difference compared to the first 45 minutes. It is quite logical that Larnaca managed to equalize (76th, 1-1). However, with this disappointing result and the success of Fenerbahce, Rennes will have to play in the play-offs against a relegated champion from the Champions League.
But what about the second period in Nice. After a well-contested and very balanced first act, Favre’s men never left the locker room. The score advantage (0-2 at the break) may have prompted the Aiglons to slow down, which could have been fatal to them. The Germans quickly returned to the game with a goal from Denis Husseinbasic (48th, 1-2) then Ondrej Duda (60th, 2-2). Nice got very few chances in the second half, completely cornered by Cologne. Le Gym finished first in their group thanks to Schmeichel and Slovacko’s draw against Partizan Belgrade.
