Lille reigns over the derby and Ligue 1: 4-0 winner of an RC Lens reduced to nine, Losc took the lead in the French championship during the 7e day, marked Sunday, October 18 by the start of Lyon, jostled in Strasbourg (3-2) but finally victorious, two months later.
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Lille, the new boss of Ligue 1
Even without its supporters due to the health curfew, Lille (1er) drastically beat his neighbor and rival Lens (5e) at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in a derby where the stake was first place.
Strong behind, clinics in front, Lille sent the surprising promoted Lensois with a head of Burak Yilmaz (11e), then a recovery alone in the area of Jonathan Bamba (48e), decisive passer on the third and fourth goals signed Jonathan Ikoné (69e) and Yusuf Yazici (79e).
Hard return to earth for Lens after a successful start to the season: if Racing had some flashes, it could hardly hope for better after the exclusions of Jonathan Gradit (57e) and Clément Michelin (75e).
By winning the first derby played since 2015, the Mastiffs take the leader’s chair with 17 points, two more than Paris SG (2e) and Rennes (3e). Above all, Losc remain the only unbeaten team in Ligue 1 with Stade Rennes, auspicious before returning to the Europa League on Thursday against Sparta Prague.
Nice goes on, Montpellier frustrates Monaco
It is tightening in the race for Europe: only three points separate Nice (4e) and Angers (11e) in the standings and the Niçois made one of the good operations of the weekend by beating 3-1 a direct competitor, Saint-Etienne (10e).
“Our workforce can be ambitious in the European Cup”Nice coach Patrick Vieira promised before tackling the Europa League on Thursday in Leverkusen.
At the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium, the “Gym” won on two blunders from Stéphanois goalkeeper Jessy Moulin exploited by Pierre Lees-Melou (8e) and Amine Gouiri (30e). Saint-Etienne reduced the mark by Adil Aouchiche (57e) but the Greens then pushed in vain before being punished by Myziane Maolida (90e+1).
The Aiglons also benefit from the draw (1-1) obtained in Monaco by Montpellier, which resisted well to ten after the early exclusion of Téji Savanier (19e). A penalty converted by Wissam Ben Yedder (70e), sound 4e goal this season in Ligue 1, responded to a solitary ride from Stephy Mavididi (51e), and the two clubs remain tied at 7e and 8e seats (11 pts).
After five games without winning (4 draws, one defeat), Rudi Garcia’s team finally returned to success on Sunday in Strasbourg.
In a frenzied meeting, OL led 3-0 thanks to Tino Kadewere (12e) then a double from Karl Toko Ekambi (25e, 42e), and three assists from Memphis Depay. But Strasbourg reduced the mark with Habib Diallo (43e) and Jean-Eudes Aholou (55e) before pushing the Lyonnais into their entrenchments.
Anyway, the Gones go back to the 9e rank (10 pts). What regain confidence before facing in quick succession Monaco, Lille and Saint-Etienne. “We managed to score three goals and win this match which puts us a little higher in the standings and which announces good prospects”, relished Karl Toko Ekambi.
Nantes listens to Gourcuff, Antonetti finds Metz
At the bottom of the ranking, Christian Gourcuff had spoken of“Urgency to take points” and Nantes (15e) listened to him. The canary team won against Brest (3-1) its second victory of the season, the first since the end of August, thanks to Randal Kolo Muani (16e), Ludovic Blas (30e) and Kader Bamba (79e).
On the side of Metz (14e), Frédéric Antonetti, general manager who stayed away from the field for a long time, resumed his role as N.1 coach on Sunday. And the Metz dynamic remains positive with a 1-1 draw reported from Angers: Thomas Mangani’s penalty for the SCO (38e) before the equalization of Opa Nguette … of the knee (39e).
