Rennes fell Sunday February 12 in Toulouse (3-1), a third defeat in four Ligue 1 games which benefits Lille, new fifth in the championship behind their regional rival Lens, who fell from the podium after being beaten 2-1 at a progressing Lyon team.
At the bottom of the table, Montpellier gave themselves some air against Brest (3-0) for the first of the ghost Michel Der Zakarian on the bench. The red lantern, Angers, and the penultimate, Auxerre, were neutralized 1-1 during this 23rd day.
Rennes and Lens slip
The World Cup-related truce cut off the momentum of Rennes, which was previously in contention for the podium and has since found itself on a slippery slope. The Bretons have just lost the fifth of their last eight games. “If I wasn’t worried, I’d be unconscious. We now have to show that we are a real group,” projected coach Bruno Genesio, unhappy with the “rookie mistakes” made in 90 seconds on the first two goals conceded.
The promoted Toulouse, for its part, sees life in pink. The Toulouse Football Club (TFC), although deprived of its master to play Branco van den Boomen, injured, has taken 16 points out of 21 since the start of the year, enough to become embedded in the middle of the table (11th) . Lille took advantage of the windfall and took fifth place, European at the end of the season, thanks to a double from Jonathan David against Strasbourg (2-0).
Lille OSC are 5 points behind their regional rival Lens, who fell from the podium, overtaken by Monaco, after being punished in Lyon (2-1). The Bloods
For its part, the team of Laurent Blanc, sick and replaced on the bench by his deputy Franck Passi, is living again after weeks of tension, especially with his supporters. On Sunday, Olympique Lyonnais signed a third victory in four games thanks to Rayan Cherki, scorer and passer for Alexandre Lacazette, who was injured before the break.
Surplace of the relegated
Beaten at Pierre-Mauroy, Strasbourg remains in a relegation position in 17th place. But the Alsatians took advantage of the setbacks of their direct competitors. Troyes, 16th with 1 more point, broke his teeth on Reims (4-0) and his insatiable scorer, Folarin Balogun, the best artificer in the championship with a fifteenth goal on Sunday.
Behind, the red lantern Angers failed to dominate the penultimate Auxerre (1-1). Angers Sporting Club de l’Ouest (SCO) did well, moreover, with a penalty from young Matthis Abline pushed back by Paul Bernardoni’s crossbar in added time. “I see it as a sign of fate because if we had taken that penalty, I think it was over [for the maintenance], the carrots were cooked”, commented Angevin coach Abdel Bouhazama. Auxerre are three points behind Strasbourg who, with 18 points, remain ahead of Ajaccio (beaten 3-0 on Friday in Nice) thanks to a better goal difference.
Among the badly classified, the only good operation is to be credited to Montpellier, winner 3-0 of Brest, a direct competitor for the maintenance. Montpellier Hérault Sport Club (MHSC) doubles its opponent in the standings and is in 14th place, with a small mattress of 5 points ahead of the red zone. With this clear success, the Héraultais are starting the new era in the best possible way. Der Zakarian, ex-coach of La Paillade (2017 to 2021) returned to the bench this week to try to straighten out the team.
“Credit goes to the players,” praised “Der Zak,” looking forward: “We have to keep fighting, keep showing that mindset. We must not have any relaxation otherwise we will take slaps. Montpellier, beaten in the last two days, had not won in front of their Mosson home crowd since September.
In the race to maintain, Nantes also achieved a salutary performance by overcoming Lorient (1-0) at La Beaujoire with a goal from Ludovic Blas. The Canaries have 5 points more than Montpellier.
