Ligue 1. The OMs are catching up, Europe and maintenance are becoming clearer… What to remember about the evening
The 21st day of Ligue 1 was played on Wednesday evening. In Nantes, OM flexed its muscles and is clearly a candidate for the title this season. Stade Rennais and AS Monaco have easily dominated Strasbourg and Auxerre at home. At the bottom of the table, Angers Sco sadly made Ligue 1 history by becoming the first team to suffer a 13-game losing streak. Here’s everything you need to remember about the evening.
Paris wins, but loses Mbappé and Ramos
Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappé injured his left thigh 20 minutes after the match against Montpellier on Wednesday, 13 days before the Champions League round of 16 first leg against Bayern Munich. After a shock with Montpellier Léo Leroy, the number 7 touched the back of his left thigh several times and ended up asking for the substitution. The vice world champion had, before his exit, missed two penalties in rapid succession against Benjamin Lecomte and a steal from close range. Minutes later, PSG also lost Sergio Ramos to injury after the Spaniard was hit on the head.
Without convincing, PSG finally won (3-1) thanks to the results of Fabian Ruiz and Lionel Messi and a goal from Zaire-Emery, who became the youngest scorer in the history of PSG in Ligue 1.
Lens, beaten, loses second place
Slack or simple accident for the RC Lens? Beaten by Nice, Sang et Or lose their first points of the season at home, they remain on an impressive run of 10 victories at the Felix-Bollaert stadium. After Lille on Sunday, the Aiglons offered themselves to their neighbor in a 1-0 win thanks to a new goal from a newfound Gaëtan Laborde. They go back to 8th place in the standings.
Rennes and Monaco win
Five days after the defeat against Lorient, Stade Rennais beat Strasbourg (3-0) in the garden of Roazhon Park. At home, the Bretons are irresistible and they proved it once again thanks to two goals from Amine Gouiri and a goal from Désiré Doué. Meanwhile, Monaco found their way back to victory at home against Auxerre (3-2), with goals from Ben Yedder, Ben Seghir and Embolo. The two formations create a small gap with Losc, 6th, relegated to five points from the 5th place occupied by Bruno Genesio’s boys.
Marseille resumes its march forward
Slowed down by Monaco on Saturday, Marseille momentarily climbed to the second step of the podium by beating Nantes (2-0) after an intense match, on Wednesday during the 21st day of L1. With an own goal from Nantes Joao Victor (56th) and a final banderilla from the newly hired Azzedine Ounahi (90th + 3), OM resumed their forward march, with the hope of starting a new series of victories, like the one interrupted from the draw (1-1) against Monaco.
The situation for Nantes is more delicate, which remains 13th with a very small number of points in front of the red zone and a Dantesque program for the month of February between L1, Coupe de France and the Europa League play-offs. The canaries conceded their first goals since the post-World Cup recovery and have not yet found the solution in attack, despite five offensive elements at the end of the game and the first from Andy Delort.
It sadly angers the story
Angers set a new record among French football’s elite by suffering a 13th consecutive defeat, after being beaten (2-1) by Ajaccio at the Raymond-Kopa stadium on Wednesday. The previous record of 12 consecutive defeats was set by Cercle Athlétique Paris during the 1933-34 season. Dijon had drawn it in the spring of 2021 and Angers had joined them on Sunday with a heavy 4-0 defeat at Brest. This time the Sco were beaten at home by Ajaccio 2-1, after opening the scoring. But when nothing goes…
Gorgeous Reims, Balogun impresses
Led by a Folarin Balogun who scored his 12th, 13th and 14th goals of the season, Reims won 4-2 against Lorient after being led by two goals. The England striker, on loan from Arsenal with no option to buy, showed his formidable sense of goal three times to get his side out of a very bad situation and, at the same time, establish themselves at the top of the table. ahead of Paris SG striker Kylian Mbappé.
Lyon can’t do it
Still missing for Lyon! After the victory in Ajaccio last weekend, Laurent Blanc’s men have not yet managed to chain the second consecutive victory, hanging at home by the Stade Brestois (0-0). Despite 27 attempts, including 8 on goal, the Lyonnais were too imprecise in their last move to hope for the best. As far as Finisterians are concerned, it scratches an important point in the maintenance perspective.
Lille skates, Toulouse is a success
Clumsy in the last gesture and close to being surprised by a good team from Clermont, Lille conceded the draw (0-0) and disappointed again, Wednesday at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium during the 21st day of Ligue 1.
Beaten in Nice on Sunday (1-0) after wasting several clear chances, the Mastiffs moved up one position in the standings (6th) with 35 units on the clock but still lost precious points in the race for European positions. The Auvergnes, unbeaten in 2023 in the league (W3, D2), remain in the top half of the table (30 points).
In Toulouse, on the other hand, life is starting to look pink. With 29 points, and a fourth victory in five races, the promoted is seriously close to salvation. Against Troyes, Philippe Montanier’s players delighted with four goals scored, despite opening the opponent’s score from the penalty spot.
All the results of the evening
Angers-Ajaccio: 1 – 2
Rennes-Strasbourg: 3 – 0
Nantes-Marseille: 0 – 2
Lyon-Brest: 0 – 0
Montpellier-PSG: 1 – 3
Lille-Clermont: 0 – 0
Monaco-Auxerre: 3 – 2
Toulouse – Troyes: 4 – 1
Goal – Nice: 0 – 1
Reims-Lorient: 4 – 2
