Marked by two expulsions in three games, the epilogue of the 14e Ligue 1 day has made this weekend the richest in red cards since the beginning of the season – six in ten games. Marseille and Bordeaux, who consolidate their position in the European places, are the big winners of the weekend.
A possible relegation at the end of the season would allow Toulouse to no longer suffer this humiliation: half of the stage standing to celebrate the opener of the score of Marseilles, which comes yet further aggravate the situation of Violets very difficult.
The TFC suffered Sunday night a fourth consecutive loss in Ligue 1 that leaves him 19e, a point in front of the red lantern Dijon, despite a courageous performance. Reduced to 10 to the 41e minute after the direct expulsion of Steven Moreira, author of a nasty crampon on Bouna Sarr, Toulouse has long resisted the very harmless Marseille attempts.
Toulouse could even open the score on a head of Sangaré at the 71e minute, pushed back on his line of the leg by Steve Mandanda. It will take a flash of genius Dimitri Payet, the only one of the meeting, to kick Dario Benedetto, a blind pass (77e). The goal of the Argentine raises after a month and a half of inefficiency.
Only three minutes later, another attacking Marseille striker, Nemanja Radonjic, wiped out Rogel with a feint and beat Baptiste Reynet, far from being imperial. Without shining, Olympique Marseille is second in Ligue 1 and will aim against Brest, Friday, a fourth win in a row.
The players of the Rock have no equal to scuttle themselves. Well launched in Bordeaux Sunday afternoon, the Monegasques have sunk by their sins cute: the fragility of their defense – already 24 goals conceded in 14 games – and their indiscipline, with the sixth red card taken of the season.
One player illustrated this double face in a pleasant match and on many occasions: rookie Islam Slimani. The Algerian scored his sixth league goal with a flawless right foot chained after Ben Yedder's skilful deflection to open the scoring (15).e).
But he was also sent off on a second yellow card after a hand in the area, the fault of an arm raised too high on a free kick from Nicolas de Préville. The first yellow card of Slimani being the fact of a protest, the Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim publicly criticized him " his lack of concentration, the fact that he talks to the referee, the fans, his lack of marking. He scored a goal but sincerely, I'm expecting more from him. "
Double penalty: the Algerian will be suspended for the reception of Paris Saint-Germain next Sunday, and Nicolas de Préville converted the penalty to give the advantage to Bordeaux (69e), diminished by numerous absences.
In addition to De Préville, who also scored the first goal, goalkeeper Benoît Costil was the other strongman of the Girondins, interposing several times on Monegasque strikes. Conversely, the defense of Monaco still seemed very permeable, in difficulty on each attack Bordeaux. The men of Jardim, now 14th in Ligue 1, still suffer as much outside: five points in seven meetings.
Saint-Etienne 0 – 0 Montpellier
Stéphane Ruffier has worthily celebrated his 303e Ligue 1 match in the Etienne cages, which made him pass legend Ivan Curkovic, saving a point for Saint-Etienne on two exceptional parades: one in the first half on a strike from the flat foot of Gaëtan Laborde , the other on a point-blank head of the same Laborde, at 77e minute.
These were the two great gestures of this otherwise dull match and marked by technical inaccuracies, where Denis Bouanga was still the only danger Etienne. Claude Puel will perhaps be satisfied, despite everything, to remain undefeated – a series of ten games underway for ASSE, eight under his direction – given the many absences in his group (Khazri, Saliba, Debuchy, Cabaye, Hamouma, Beric, Fofana …). ASSE finished with two 18 and 19-year-old players playing their first professional match, one of which, Edmilson Indjai Correia, had a victory ball in the final minutes.
Montpellier, for its part, may regret falling on a great Ruffier and not having received a penalty on an undisclosed tackle from Timothy Kolodziejczak on Andy Delort at the 52e minute. A gesture not sanctioned by the VAR.
"It could have rocked from one side or the other, especially ours in the first half when we had situations, estimated St Etienne captain Loïc Perrin. We knew it was going to be a match of duels: against Montpellier, it's always complicated. "
