PSG and OM hanging on for the last match of the year, Nice takes second place

Had they already taken their leave? Paris-Saint-Germain players collected a dull draw in Lorient on Wednesday, December 22, for the 19^e Ligue 1 day, after an extremely disappointing performance (1-1).

Without his best player since the start of the season, Kylian Mbappé suspended, the leader of Ligue 1 managed to miraculously save a point in additional time of the match (91^e minute) thanks to a goal from striker Mauro Icardi. The 100% Argentinian offensive triplet that he formed with Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria did not have the expected return.

In a game that looked like a trap at the Moustoir stadium, Messi certainly found the post in the first period but he struggled in vain against the penultimate of L1, who opened the scoring on a tense strike from Thomas Monconduit (39^e). The entry of Sergio Ramos, at the break, was supposed to bring more experience but the former Madrid defender saw his match cut short by a red card (86^e) and Paris seemed to be heading for defeat… until Icardi’s flash.

Enough to save the day for his coach and compatriot Mauricio Pochettino, who would have spent the holidays surrounded by rumors of departure in the event of defeat … ” See you next year “, launched the Argentine coach, all smiles after the meeting on Canal +, while the PSG, still under construction, ends the year alone in the lead (46 points).

In the race for the podium, the great operation is for Nice, which erased three consecutive defeats at home by overcoming Lens (2-1). Here are the Aiglons installed in second place in L1 (33 points) for the holidays, an enviable position, especially given the stunning scenario at the Allianz-Riviera with two goals from Mario Lemina (63^e) and Justin Kluivert (79^e) to answer Arnaud Kalimuendo (30^e).

If Nice was able to overtake Marseille on the wire, it is because OM were satisfied with a draw at home by Reims (1-1), which led 1-0 for a long time thanks to Hugo Ekitike (75^e). In an electric end of the match where the young Marseille striker Bamba Dieng was excluded for a nasty tackle, Dimitri Payet was the victim of a fault in the area and himself transformed the penalty (90 + 8), before don a Santa hat to celebrate. It’s a lesser evil for Marseille which, to end the year, is in third position with 33 points, and one game late.

On other Ligue 1 pitches:

• Monaco – Rennes (2-1) : beaten in the Principality, the Rennes stadium lost its place on the podium, after having nevertheless opened the scoring by Terrier (16^e). But Ben Yedder on penalty (35^e) and Volland (72^e) allow Monaco to end the year on a good note and to end up in 6^e position, 2 points behind their evening opponents, 4^e.
• Montpellier – Angers (4-1) : Montpellier, now 5^e, continues a fourth victory in the league thanks to the essential Téji Savanier, scorer (14^e) then ferryman for Cozza (30^e) on his 30th birthday. The reduction of the Angevin gap of Pereira-Lage (45 + 1) will not disturb the Hérault people with two new goals from Ristic (51^e) and Mivididi (77^e).
• Lyon – Metz (1-1) : in a complicated period for Lyon, between the announced departure of sports director Juninho and repeated outbursts of his supporters, Peter Bosz’s team could not do better than a draw against Metz (18^e). The young Castello Lukeba (19) had yet opened the scoring with a header (56^e), but OL immediately fell back into their shortcomings on the equalizer of Boubacar Traoré (59^e). The Lyonnais will spend the holidays to a disappointing 13^e square.
• Saint-Etienne – Nantes (0-1) : a goal from Randal Kolo Muani allows Nantes to win their third consecutive victory in Ligue 1 on the ground of Saint-Etienne, thus spoiling the debut in the championship of the new coach of the Greens, Pascal Dupraz. The change on the Stéphanois bench has not yet brought the expected effects despite a qualification for the Coupe de France on Sunday at Lyon-La Duchère. ASSE remains on five consecutive losses in the league and remains stuck in the last row while Nantes climbs to 7^e three points from the Top 5.
• Bordeaux – Lille (2-3) : at the end of a year 2021 rich in emotions, – French champion in May, qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League in December -, Lille overthrew Bordeaux with a victorious goal from Jonathan David. Lille were twice behind in score after goals from Bordelais Elis, but André then Yilmaz on penalty allowed LOSC to stay in the match, before the 12^e goal of the season for the Canadian, top scorer in the championship.
• Troyes – Brest (1-1) : Troyes snatched a draw thanks to its veteran Adil Rami (81^e), who replied at the opening of the Brest score signed Honorat (5^e). The Trojans, 15^e, remain outside the relegation zone, while the Bretons end the year in 12^e square.
• The game Clermont – Strasbourg was postponed due to thick fog which made visibility difficult at the Gabriel-Montpied stadium, and will have to be rescheduled.