Bottling at the top of the ranking. The day after PSG’s draw against Bordeaux (2-2), Saturday, the pursuers ensured their match, Sunday, November 29. The only good news of the evening for Paris, the club of the capital is still alone in the lead with 25 points, since Lille failed to win in Saint-Etienne at the end of the 12th day. Lille, Lyon, Monaco and Montpellier follow in that order, each with 23 points.
Saint-Etienne – Lille: 1-1
Lille had a great opportunity to put pressure on PSG, hung on Saturday by Bordeaux. But Lille failed to inflict an eighth consecutive defeat on the Greens. Saint-Etienne even opened the scoring in the first period thanks to a penalty from Wahbi Khazri (33e). Claude Puel’s players wanted at all costs to avoid the humiliation of a series of record defeats.
In the second period, the meeting was completely dominated by Lille, who logically equalized through Jonathan Ikoné, served from the chest by Burak Yilmaz (65e). The chances and dangerous situations then accumulated in front of goalkeeper Jessy Moulin’s goals. Without success for Losc, which still remains second in the championship with 23 points, two points behind PSG. The Lille are under the threat of a trio in form with the same number of points: Lyon, Monaco and Monptellier.
Rudi Garcia’s men had a quiet afternoon and offered themselves a third straight win against Reims. Facing 17e in the standings, which are further reduced to 10 after half an hour of play, the Lyonnais delivered a very solid performance with good fluidity in the offensive animation. Karl Toko Ekambi scored the first goal shortly after hitting the post. He was also behind the goal scored by the Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes and he also allowed Moussa Dembélé to score his first goal of the season. In two weeks, the Lyonnais will travel to the Parc des Princes to face PSG. Before that, they will move to Metz.
Another team in shape of the moment, Monaco signed a fourth consecutive success, a week after its prestigious victory against PSG (3-2). The match definitely changed in the last twenty minutes. Following an intervention in the video, the Nîmes Lucas Deaux was sent off for slipping on the ball and involuntarily hitting Sofiane Diop’s shin. Monaco, which was already ahead thanks to a goal from the same Sofiane Diop, then took off with goals from Gelson Martins and Kevin Volland. Nîmes, beaten for the fifth time in six games, stagnates in the 15the square.
Lorient-Montpellier: 0-1
With the same number of points as Lyon and Monaco at kick-off, Montpellier also kept pace, although their victory against Lorient was more difficult. Serbian substitute Petar Skuletic scored just after entering the game and allowed the Hérault residents to logically take the lead ten minutes from time. Montpellier then fell back to preserve the score, not without some fears for their goalkeeper Jonas Omlin.
The blow of less well is confirmed for Lens. The Sang et Or, authors of an excellent start to the season, have only taken five points in the last six games after their home loss to Angers. Superb goals from Mathias Pereira Lage, a half-volley from the top 25 meters, and Stéphane Bahoken, as well as a last from Pierrick Capelle, compensated for the lensoise equalizer of Arnaud Kalimuendo. The Lensois had control of the ball for most of the match, but lacked sharpness and suffered their first loss at home. They are overtaken by their opponent in the standings, 8e, but have a game to play against Marseille.
No one stops Brest. With the surprise victory against Lille, then the demonstration against Saint-Etienne, the Bretons chained a new victory in Metz. Irvin Cardona scored twice, with a header at the near post at the start of the match, then in two stages on the hour mark. Brest is back in the middle of the standings, while Metz is still eight points ahead of the current barrage manager, Lorient.
Nice lost big this week. Three days after their 3-1 defeat against Slavia Prague, synonymous with virtual elimination in the Europa League, the Aiglons lost by the same score against the last one in Ligue 1. The Azuréens switch to the second half of the standings and put their coach Patrick Vieira, deprived of many executives (Dante, Schneiderlin, Atal and Dolberg), in embarrassment. Dijon, despite its first victory of the season, remains last but with the same number of points as Strasbourg (7) and a unit behind Nîmes, barrage.
