Lens chained a new success when Angers came (3-0), while Monaco revived in Ajaccio (0-2) and Nice was still hooked by Lorient (1-1). Here is what to remember from the 28th day of Ligue 1.
Lyon-Nantes: 1-1
Lyon is still idling. Hooked by Nantes at Groupama Stadium (1-1), the Rhone club chained a 3e consecutive draw. Led only a few minutes after kick-off, after an own goal from Castello Lukeba (3e), Laurent Blanc’s men equalized thanks to Alexandre Lacazette (24e). But they then stumbled on the Nantes defense and failed to make the difference to win. With this draw, OL are treading water in the middle of the table (10e), while Nantes (14e), who remained on three defeats in a row, took a valuable point in the fight for maintenance.
Toulouse-Lille : 0-2
Lille revives. After two consecutive draws, Losc returned to victory in Toulouse (0-2). In a tense and undecided match, the northern club took the best of the TFC in the last minutes with a point-blank header from Alexsandro (85e) before Mohamed Bayo took advantage of an error by the Toulouse defense to seal the success of the Dogues after additional time (90e+11). Thanks to this victory, Lille remains in a good position to win a European qualification, while Toulouse is still in the soft underbelly of the classification (12th).
Lens-Angers : 3-0
We will have to reckon with Lens until the end of the season. The Sang et Or chained another convincing victory when Angers came (3-0). After a complicated first quarter of an hour, they played against the red lantern by opening the scoring shortly before the half-hour mark through their captain Seko Fofana (26e). In the process, Loïs Openda doubled the bet (30e) before scoring twice at the start of the second period (46e), a week after his hat-trick. With this victory, Lens has scored three important new points in the race for the podium. For its part, Angers, dead last with only ten points, should no longer be able to escape relegation to Ligue 2.
Ajaccio-Monaco : 0-2
Monaco tastes success again. In a series of three games without a win, the club from the principality returned to success in Ajaccio (0-2). The Monegasques did not play their best match of the season against Corsicans reduced to ten at the start of the second half with the expulsion of Cyrille Bayala (53e), but they provided the essentials thanks to the opportunism of Wissam Ben Yedder (27e) and the realism of Krépin Diatta at the end of the match (84e). And this victory allows Philippe Clement’s men to stay in the race for the Champions League and keeps Ajaccio in the red zone ten days before the end of the season.
Strasbourg-Auxerre: 2-0
Strasbourg gives itself some fresh air. A week after its snatch draw in Marseille (2-2), the Alsatian club dominated Auxerre at home (2-0). Frédéric Antonetti’s players quickly took the lead on a shot from Gerzino Nyamsi, who finished in the back of the net with the help of the post (5e). And after seeing his penalty hijacked by the Auxerre goalkeeper (21e), Habib Diallo assured the victory of his team at the end of the match (86e). With this success, Strasbourg (15th) distances itself somewhat from the red zone. On the other hand, Auxerre (17th) experiences a setback after a series of six games without defeat and remains first relegated with a point behind Brest.
Troyes-Brest: 2-2
A result that does not suit either team. Troyes and Brest left in a draw at the end of a meeting with twists and turns (2-2). Pierre Lees-Melou opened the scoring half an hour into the game (30e), but Estac overturned the match in four minutes with strikes from Renaud Ripart (34e) and Rony Lopes (38e). A quarter of an hour from the end, Romain Del Castillo equalized on penalty (74e). In the standings, Troyes remains in the relegation zone (18e), while Brest (16e) is only one point ahead of the first relegated Auxerre.
Montpellier-Clermont : 2-1
And six for Montpellier! The Hérault club chained a 6e consecutive match without defeat with his victory against Clermont (2-1). Trailing after 4e goal of the season for Saïf-Eddine Khaoui (32e), the Montpellier, reduced to ten in the last minutes after the expulsion of Jordan Ferri (90e), overthrew the Clermont formation thanks to a double from Ely Wahi (61e73e). With this 3e victory in a row, Montpellier goes back to 11e rank, overtaking Clermont who demoted to 13e place.
Nice-Lorient: 1-1
Didier Digard is still undefeated on the Nice bench. But the Riviera club conceded a 3e consecutive draw in the league against Lorient (1-1). The Niçois were surprised half an hour into the game by the Lorient and Bamo Meïté (30e). But by dint of pushing, they managed to equalize through Gaëtan Laborde (1-1) without succeeding in winning. In the standings, the two teams remain tied at 7e et 8e place with 44 points.
