No offensive festival between two of the best attacks in Ligue 1. In a Pierre-Mauroy stadium sounding hollow, as usual in this year deprived of supporters as a result of the pandemic linked to the new coronavirus, Lille and Paris did not arrive to be decided, Sunday, December 20. At the end of a hooked game, committed but sterile, the two teams parted with a goalless draw (0-0), which allows LOSC to regain the lead in the French championship.
No goal, but actions and “Gegenpressing” (counter-pressing) at all times from Parisians determined to thwart “The best team in Europe on the counter-attack”, in the words of Thomas Tuchel. Under the eyes of Olivier Létang, inducted Friday deputy president of LOSC after the change of hands at the head of the club, the Lille suffered, in the first period, the strategy of the champion of France.
In an evolving tactical scheme, to stick as well as possible to the basques of the Northerners, PSG, carried by a midfielder Verratti – Rafinha in verve, set foot on the ball. With 69% possession over the entire meeting, the Parisians sterilized most of the opposing offensives, but struggled to obtain clear opportunities. Deprived of the inspirations of Neymar (injured) and Mbappé (decreased, and entered in the last quarter of an hour), the teammates of Angel Di Maria stumbled on the gloves of Mike Maignan – trained at the club of the capital – during their few occasions.
“Organizations are put to the test”
In this duel between two clubs still in contention in European competitions – Champions League for PSG, Europa League for Lille – the organizations marked the blow, after a series of dantesque meetings since the fall. “At this rate, we will kill the players”, once again lamented Thomas Tuchel at the end of the game. The Paris coach saw three of his players join the infirmary on Sunday – defenders Presnel Kimpembe, Alessandro Florenzi and Layvin Kurzawa.
“Organizations are under strain. We lacked freshness in the ball spring and racing forward. The teams are tired, very tired on a physical level ”, noted the Lille coach, Christophe Galtier, at the microphone of the Téléfoot channel. If he seems to have managed to have focused his flock on the meeting, and not on the future of their club after the departures of President Gérard Lopez and his trusted man Luis Campos, the northerner coach acknowledged “To have suffered” against the French champion: ” Paris stifled us in the first period, they exerted a counter-pressure as soon as the ball was lost and had the monopoly of the game. ” If Paris got only one shot on target, there were plenty of opportunities for Moise Kean’s teammates.
Kimpembe sacrifices himself
In the second half, even sticking out their tongue, the Mastiffs – reorganized by several changes – proved to be more dangerous. They could even have created a surprise, on “The only counter-attack that we have conceded to them”, recognized Thomas Tuchel. Left to four against the only Kimpembe, after a tumble of Burak Yilmaz in the middle of the field, the Lille ones failed on a rescue in extremis of the Parisian defender, who was injured during the action. “He was incredible, he did what was necessary for the team, all alone against three or four forwards, greeted the Parisian captain Marquinhos. You really have to thank him because if he doesn’t stop that ball, they were really going to the goal. “
Deprived of its tandem bought at a gold price, PSG recalled Sunday that it was worth more than its golden individualities. Imposing his game, the champion of France defeated the leader of the championship. And they only missed one goal. “Even with all of our absentees, we had a superb team on the pitch who responded. We missed this little goal to make the evening perfect ”, concluded Marquinhos, interviewed by the broadcaster.
“You also have to know not to lose”, welcomed the coach Christophe Galtier, whose team remains undefeated for eight meetings. Leaders of the championship (33 points) tied with Lyon, but the goal difference, Lille are ahead of PSG by one point. On Wednesday, the two teams will complete a grueling first part of the season, in the 17e Ligue 1 day, before a cut that everyone is calling for.
Rennes continues its recovery
In the other matches played on Sunday, Rennes achieves the right operation. Winner in Lorient (3-0) thanks to goals signed by Da Silva, Bourigeaud and Terrier, the Breton club has chained a third success in a row to climb to fifth place in Ligue 1 at Marseille (4e) which is nevertheless two games behind. The afternoon was mourned by the accidental death of a gardener shortly after the final whistle. The man, who was deploying a heated gantry on the lawn, was injured by the fall of the device, under the eyes of the Rennes replacements in scrubbing. Long rescued on the lawn then evacuated by ambulance, he did not survive his injuries.
With this victory, Stade Rennes left behind Montpellier held in check in Brest (2-2) despite a goal from Delort who also gave Laborde an assist. This was necessary to meet the Brest goals of Philippoteaux and Chardonnet. For its part, after three losses in a row, Monaco (7e) regained success at the expense of the red lantern, Dijon, thanks to a goal from Volland (1-0). After two defeats, Bordeaux (12e) has also returned to the fore in Strasbourg, now 17e, with two goals from his Brazilians Pablo and Otavio (2-0).
It has been a month and a half since FC Nantes (15e) did not win in L1 but he at least managed to snatch the draw at home against Angers (1-1) thanks to a goal in added time from Traoré, responding to Thomas. For Saint-Etienne, things are progressing slowly with a fourth draw in five days, against Nîmes (2-2). Moukoudi and Nordin kept the Greens afloat as the Crocos led thanks to Ahlinvi and a penalty from Ripart. Result: the two clubs stagnate at the bottom of the table, respectively 14e and 18e.
