FRANCE
By picking up a seventh victory in a row against Angers, Philippe Clement’s AS Monaco continued their rise in the standings, to the point of becoming a solid candidate for the podium. After 35 days, the Assémistes are in fourth place with 62 points just like Rennes (3rd), which has a better goal difference (41 against 22). Angers (35 points, 15th) is not yet reassured since it has only 4 points ahead of Saint-Etienne, 18th and roadblocker. Deprived of several executives including Vanderson, Clement aligned Eliot Matazo, who was replaced in the 78th. The first goal fell before the break thanks to Youssouf Fofana, who eliminated several opponents in the rectangle before seeing his right-footed shot deflected by the Angevin defender, Abdoul Kader Bamba (42nd, 1-0). The Rock team had several opportunities to break. It happened on a counter: Monaco found themselves five against one and served by served by Kevin Volland in the area, Wissam Ben Yedder scored his 21st goal (62nd, 2-0).
Reims won 1-2 at Lorient. Among the Champenois, Wout Faes and Thomas Foket played the whole match while Maxime Busi got into the game (64th). Arber Zeneli opened the scoring for Reims with a right footed shot (17th, 0-1). Terem Moffi equalized: starting from the central circle, he went up the whole field, eliminating Predrag Rajkovic with a hook from the outside of the left foot (32nd, 1-1) However, Reims definitively regained the advantage through El Bilal Touré on a cross from Kamory Doumbia (59th, 1-2). In the standings, Reims is in 12th position (43 points) and Lorient is still fighting for survival (34 points, 16th).
In France, Lyon won the “Olympico” Sunday in Marseille 0-3. Jason Denayer did not play due to injury. The three goals fell after the break via Castello de Lukeba (55th), Moussa Dembélé (76th) and Karl Toko Ekambi (88th). OM remain 2nd with 65 points but see Rennes 3rd and Monaco 4th, both winners this weekend, come back to 3 points three days from the end of Ligue 1. Lyon are 7th (55 pts).
ENGLAND
Castagne holder, Tielemans goes into the game and gives an assist
In England, Tottenham can still dream of qualifying for the Champions League following their 3-1 victory against Leicester in the context of the 35th day. The Spurs (61 points) have temporarily recovered fourth place in the standings from Arsenal (60 points), which moves to West Ham (52 points, 7th) at 5:30 p.m. Despite its two late matches, Leicester (42 points, 11th) has little chance of being able to catch up with its 10-point deficit on the 7th classified to hope for a European ticket.
At the Foxes, only three players who started against AS Roma on Thursday in Conference Leaegue were starters: Kasper Schmeichel, Marc Albrighton and Timothy Castagne. On the other hand, Youri Tielemans got into the game (76th) and distilled the assist on the goal of Kelechi Iheanacho (90th + 1, 3-1). Tottenham had not been dangerous when Harry Kane opened the scoring with a header on a corner outgoing from Heung Min Son (22nd, 1-0). The South Korean striker then turned into a scorer by signing a double (60th, 79th).
With Romelu Lukaku on the bench, Chelsea lost 1-0 at Everton. In the standings, the Blues remain third (66 points) but are only 5 points ahead of Tottenham. Richarlison’s goal (47th, 1-0) allows Everton (32 points, 18th) to come back two lengths behind Leeds (17th) and Burnley (16th).
Arsenal take fourth place from Tottenham
By winning at 1-2 West Ham on the 35th day of the Premier League, Arsenal remains well placed in the race for the Champions League. The Gunners (63 points) recovered fourth place that Tottenham (61 points, 5th), 3-1 winner of Leicester in the afternoon, had stolen from them. West Ham (52 points) remains 7th. At the Gunners, Albert Sambi Lokonga got into play in stoppage time (90th + 2). At kick-off, Arsenal stormed the opposing area but their insufficiently coordinated pressing did not allow them to embarrass the West Ham defense. Besides, the first strike of the meeting fired by Eddie Nketiah, the Gunners striker, was long overdue (16th). The match got carried away around the half-hour with West Ham, which proved dangerous twice by Pablo Fornals (27th) and Manuel Lanzini (29th) The public was then entitled to seven minutes of fire with the opener for the Gunners by Rob Holding on a corner from Bukayo Saka (38th, 0-1) and the reaction of the Hammers by Jarrod Bowen ‘(45th, 1-1).
After the break, Arsenal struggled to regain control and succeeded thanks to a header from their Brazilian defender Gabriel (54th, 1-2). The Gunners were not content to manage their lead without however managing to deceive Lukasz Fabianski.
SPAIN
Real Sociedad blocked by Rayo Vallecano and veteran Radamel Falcao
Real Sociedad went to share the 1-1 stake at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday as part of the 34th day of the Spanish championship. In the standings, the Basques, with Adnan Januzaj in the second half, are 6th (56 points) and Rayo Vallecano 11th (41 points). At rest, Real Sociedad led the way thanks to a goal from ex-Ghent Alexander Sorloth (33rd, 0-1). The Norwegian’s goal rewarded the Basques, who had been more tenacious and attacking than their opponents. The Rayo only appeared in the last minutes with two successive good plays from Unai López (40th) and Alvaro Garcia (41st) but Alex Remiro allowed Real Sociedad to maintain their lead.
In the second half, the Basques were less regular and they were punished by Radamel Falcao, who had just come into play after two months without playing (77th, 1-1). In fact, the Colombian veteran, 36, touched his first ball.
ITALY
Bologna takes a point from Roma, Theate played the end of the match
After taking a point from Juventus, beating Inter in recent weeks, Bologna went to share the stake 0-0 on the field of another Italian great, AS Roma, Sunday evening in a match of the 35th day of Serie A. The Red Devil Arthur Theate only entered the game in the 82nd minute. Mourinho’s Roma occupy 5th place (qualifying for the Europa League) with 59 points but remain within reach of the neighbor of Lazio 6th who also has 59 after his success at La Spezia. Fiorentina are 7th (56) and Atalanta 8th (55). Bologna 13th is tied on points (43) with Udinese 12th.
TURKEY
Besiktas and Batshuayi move up to sixth place
Although having finished at ten following the exclusion of Francisco Montero (82nd), Besiktas won 2-3 Sunday at Kayserispor in a match of the 35th day of the Turkish Super Lig. Holder, Michy Batshuayi came out in the 71st. Kayserispor opened the scoring from the penalty spot through Mame Thiam (23rd, 1-0) but the Black Eagles equalized through Serdar Saatci (50th, 1-1). While the visited coach had already made changes, Valérien Ismaël, the Besiktas technician, made three at once (71st); he notably released Batshuayi and launched Georges-Kevin N’Koudou, who scored twice (75th, 78th) In the standings, Besiktas is 6th (54 points) six lengths behind Basaksehir (4th) with three days left and Kayserispor, which reduced its delay by Miguel Cardoso (90th + 6, 2-3) is 15th (43 points).
