Ligue 2 Results: Montpellier Defeat Le Mans, Reims Draw with Grenoble

Montpellier defeated Le Mans 4-2 in a Ligue 2 match Saturday, while Reims and Grenoble played to a scoreless draw, both results impacting the race for promotion to Ligue 1.

Le Mans, previously unbeaten in seventeen league matches, conceded four goals at the Stade de la Mosson. Lucas Buades gave the visitors an early lead in the 10th minute with a goal from a set piece, but Montpellier responded before halftime through Christopher Jullien, equalizing with a header from a corner kick in added time. Nicolas Pays then put Montpellier ahead in the 49th minute, assisted by Yanis Issoufou, who extended the lead ten minutes later following a pass from Pays. Alexandre Mendy added a fourth goal for Montpellier in the 84th minute, before Dame Gueye scored a late consolation goal for Le Mans in the 87th minute.

The result lifts Montpellier to seventh place in the Ligue 2 standings with 34 points, five points behind Le Mans, who remain fourth with 39 points. Reims, meanwhile, failed to capitalize on the opportunity to move into first place, drawing 0-0 with Grenoble at the Stade des Alpes.

Saint-Étienne took advantage of the dropped points by both Le Mans and Reims, defeating Guingamp 2-1 and climbing to third place in the league table. Zuriko Davitashvili scored twice for Saint-Étienne in the opening fifteen minutes of the match, with Donatien Gomis pulling one back for Guingamp in the second half.

Montpellier’s victory ends Le Mans’ lengthy undefeated streak, while Reims’ draw leaves them in second place, trailing the league leader, Troyes, by a single point. Troyes has a game in hand.

Yanis Issoufou was recently named Ligue 2 Player of the Month for January.