PSG wins but loses Mbappé and Ramos, Lens goes down, Monaco and Rennes take the lead!
Continuation and conclusion of matchday 21, after a first round of matches at 19:00 which saw OM in particular put RC Lens and PSG under pressure. PSG moved onto the Montpellier field, without Neymar, but with Messi and Mbappé in the front line in attack. The Ile-de-France club thought it would ideally start with a rather generous penalty offered for a foul by Jullien on Sergio Ramos. Lecomte, back during this winter transfer window in Montpellier, deflected Mbappé’s first attempt but the penalty was awarded to retire. Lecomte stood out again by deflecting onto the post, the ball returned to the attacker’s feet who shot over (10th)!
PSG lose Sergio Ramos and Kylian Mbappé
The evening started badly and continued with worrying news, Mbappé’s injury, after a foul by Leroy. Shot in the right leg, the French forward gave way to Ekitike in the 20th minute and inevitably worried the entire Parisian staff, at the dawn of a series of decisive games for the rest of the season. PSG chained the disappointments with the exit of Sergio Ramos, who was hit on the head after an aerial duel. And in the match, it was no longer famous, the barren domination that only gave birth to a goal by Messi rejected for offside (35th).
Upon returning from the locker room, PSG intensified the pressure. Hakimi thought to score a superb goal with a long-range shot, but the goal was again disallowed for offside. In the aftermath, on a new offensive and a breakthrough from Hakimi, Ekitike displaced Fabian Ruiz with a header. The Spaniard finished close, scoring his first goal in PSG colors and significantly lifting his teammates (0-1, 55th). Fabian Ruiz also offered a decisive pass, particularly delicious, for Messi, who easily played Lecomte (0-2, 71st). The MHSC reduced the score in the 88th minute thanks to a fine goal by Nordin (1-2, 88′). What makes PSG tremble? Not this time. The young Warren Zaire-Emery, who entered the game, scored his first goal as a professional, with a clear right-footed shot, slightly off-center in the box (1-3, 90+2nd). PSG regained the win after two consecutive unsuccessful matches and took a 5-point lead over runners-up Marseille.
Nice offers Lens, Monaco are afraid
Back in third place after Olympique de Marseille’s victory in Nantes (2-0), Racing Club de Lens wanted to follow the leap to the top of the table and had plenty to do against Nice (12th). The Aiglons immediately put in great pressure to unhinge the northerners and the first big chance signed by Antoine Mendy forced Brice Samba to make a good save (10th). In the process, David Pereira da Costa tested Kasper Schmeichel (11th). Rhythmic, this start to the match was the subject of a great fight between the two teams. Nice slowly took control of the debates, but Brice Samba was solid in front of his cage. Lens had trouble showing up, but Wesley Saïd had a big chance at the end of the first act (34th). Back from the locker room, Gaëtan Laborde once again pushed Brice Samba on the save, but the referee signaled the Nice forward to be offside (51′). A warning followed by a punishment. From a corner from the right, Antoine Mendy deflects onto the near post – which disturbs Brice Samba – and Gaëtan Laborde creeps into the back of the net (1-0, 57′). Seko Fofana tries to react with a heavy shot (66th) then the one following finds the crossbar (67th). The Lensois captain took his responsibilities but fell to a solid Kasper Schmeichel (78th). On a difficult night, Lens lost 1-0 to find themselves third. Nice confirms its return to form and rises to 8th place.
Fourth, Monaco wanted to keep in touch with the top trio who are seven points clear and found themselves forced to win against Auxerre. Nineteenth, the Burgundians remained on six defeats in a row and wanted to react at all costs so as not to sink even further into the red zone. After a first shot by Axel Disasi (9th), Monaco already took the lead from a nice pass by Youssouf Fofana on the left of the box to Wissam Ben Yedder who was quick to score (1-0, 11th). A perfect start that freed the asemists. Gelson Martins (15th), Vanderson (21st) and Eliesse Ben Seghir (23rd) put Ionut Radu’s goal in danger. Finally, the second was good for Eliesse Ben Seghir who beat the Romanian goalkeeper with a sublime shot (2-0, 30th minute). Dominating the pitch against timid Auxerre save for a goal from Isaak Touré (35th), Monaco easily took the lead at half-time. Upon returning from the dressing rooms, Monaco were more in management and rotating in their workforce. By dint of slowing down, Monaco was surprised and Matthis Abline revived the suspense with a flat foot (2-1, 68th). Nuno Da Costa then attacked the Monegasque right post with a heavy shot (72nd). But Monaco struggled and Breel Embolo, who had entered the game, breathed new life into the Asemisti with his eleventh goal of the season (3-1, 82nd). A short-lived joy as Nuno Da Costa equalized in stride (3-2, 84th). This end to the game was crazy but Monaco did well with this 3-2 victory. The ASM is 4 points behind Lens (3rd) and is relaunching itself in the race for Europe.
Rennes without forcing, OL without scoring
Fifth, Rennes also played a relegation game with Strasbourg (18th). And the Bretons wasted no time. A nice ball from Adrien Truffert for Amine Gouiri who scores and Rennes takes the lead (1-0, 3rd). Bruno Genesio’s team imposes its pace and Baptiste Santamaria thinks of doubling, but the assistant referee raises the flag (19th). It was only a postponement as Désiré Doué in turn put Amine Gouiri into orbit and the former Nice player offered himself a brace (2-0, 21st), now finding himself credited with 8 goals in Ligue 1. first at the break . The second period continues at the same pace and Désiré Doué – well met by Benjamin Bourigeaud – pushes the Alsatians a little further (3-0, 51st). What definitely knocks out the Alsatians. Rennes managed this second period well and nothing major happened. Rennes won easily 3-0 and returned to within five points of the podium. Strasbourg remain 19th, four points behind Troyes, the first player not to be relegated.
In a complicated context, Olympique Lyonnais (11th) found at home a team from Brest (16th) who wanted to keep the gap with the red zone. And the Gones didn’t start off in the best way. Thus Franck Honrat put pressure twice (5th and 6th), but the revolt came from Maxence Caqueret (8th) and above all from Alexandre Lacazette whose heavy blow forced the intervention of Marco Bizot (19th). Bradley Barcola then put the Dutch goalkeeper to the test (23rd) and Corentin Tolisso struck from distance (26th). A nice reaction for the Lyonnais who still got odds through Rayan Cherki (35th) and Bradley Barcola (43rd) before the break. Upon returning from the locker room, Malo Gusto found Alexandre Lacazette in an ideal position on the penalty spot, but he was rebounded (50th). Despite a serious game, OL lacked efficiency, whether it was Rayan Cherki (53rd), Alexandre Lacazette (56th) or Maxence Caqueret (69th). Maltreated, Brest passes close to the hold, but Franck Honorat crosses too much on the right (77th). OL regained control of the game and Moussa Dembélé’s header went wide of the goal (87th). Always impeccable, Marco Bizot was decisive ahead of Amin Sarr (90th). The Lyonnais tried to the end in vain. Lyon are now tenth while Brest (15th) get a good away point.
The games of the evening
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Racing Club de Lens 0-1 OGC Nice : Gaëtan Laborde (57th) for Nice
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Olympique Lyonnais 0-0 Stade Brestois 29
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Rennais stadium 3-0 Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace: Amine Gouiri (3rd and 21st) and Désiré Doué (51st) for Rennes
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AS Monaco 3-2 AJ Auxerre: Wissam Ben Yedder (11th), Eliesse Ben Seghir (30th) and Breel Embolo (82nd) for Monaco, Matthis Abline (68th) and Nuno Da Costa (84th) for Auxerre
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Montpellier HSC 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain : Arnaud Nordin (89th) for Montpellier, Fabian Ruiz (55th), Lionel Messi (72nd) and Warren Zaire-Emery (90th+2) for PSG
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