The hopes of European adventure of Lyon and Lens and of maintaining Metz, Bordeaux and Clermont, met opposite fates, Sunday, May 8, during the 36th day of Ligue 1. While they had only known victory Only once on their lawn, the players of Metz brought down Lyon (3-2). If OL sees Europe moving away, Lens has given itself the right to still believe in it by snatching victory from Reims (2-1).
In the duel at the bottom of the table, the Girondins de Bordeaux took on water in Angers (4-1). Clermont, by winning against Montpellier (2-1), conversely takes a serious option for maintenance.
Dark Bordeaux in Angers
The match of the badly classified – Bordeaux, penultimate, Angers, 15th – very quickly turned to the advantage of the Angevins (4-1), hosts of the meeting. At the Raymond-Kopa stadium, it only took five minutes for Mohamed-Ali Cho to find the net. The rest of the match was only a series of defensive errors offering the Angevins multiple opportunities.
In the 36th, on a free kick from Angelo Fulgini, Batista Mendy doubled the bet with a powerful header, left unmarked by a non-existent Gironde defense. If Sekou Mara reduced the score in the 60th for Bordeaux, David Guion’s players were scuttled by a new defensive blunder, just two minutes later. In total, the Girondins conceded four goals whereas before this match Angers stood out as… the club having scored the fewest goals at home (17) this season.
For the SCO, this victory means a big step towards maintaining it. Conversely, Bordeaux continues to sink. If Saint-Etienne wins Wednesday in Nice, relegation will be mathematically inevitable for Bordeaux.
Lens continues to believe in Europe
A victory snatched at the end of the suspense. Dominating at the start of the first half on the lawn of the Auguste-Delaune stadium in Reims, the Sang et or were surprised in the 28th minute by Arber Zeneli, scorer on his first real opportunity. Upon returning from the locker room, Florian Sotoca gave hope to the Lensois by equalizing (56th). And it was not until the 92nd minute that Lens, thanks to the left foot of its captain Seko Fofana, reversed the situation and continued to dream of Europe (two points from 5th place, occupied by Strasbourg).
A Racing with a big ̶c̶r̶u̶ heart ❤️
Led in the score at the break, the Sang et Or put their guts to snatch an oh so important success! simply magical @StadeDeReims 1⃣-2⃣ @RCLens
⚽️ Florian Sotoca (55′)
⚽️ Seko Fofana (90’+2)#SDRRCL pic.twitter.com/wcBuBz92b1— Racing Club de Lens (@RCLens) May 8, 2022
Lyon loses big in Metz
The hunt for points – to believe in the miracle of maintenance for Metz, to dream of a European adventure for Lyon – gave rise to a match removed at the Saint-Symphorien stadium. Red lantern, Metz ended its sad series of fourteen Ligue 1 games without a win on Sunday, winning in the final moments of the match (3-2).
Against the Lyonnais, the Messins started without complex: captain Vincent Pajot opened the scoring in the 27th minute, before Didier Lamkel Zé drove the point home in the 39th. Five minutes later, Lyon’s reaction came from its captain Moussa Dembélé. Back from the locker room, if OL had their hands on the ball, the team did not manage to close the gap. The Lyonnais were also reduced to ten after the expulsion of Thiago Mendes for hanging Didier Lamkel Zé who spun towards the goal.
Moussa Dembélé’s equalizer in the 85th minute was not enough. With a superb strike, Farid Boulaya, entered in the 80th, released Metz in the 90th. Enough to give the Messins the right to still believe in it, but also to crucify the hopes of Lyon. “Today, we can say that the season is a failure, said Lyon coach Peter Bosz after the match. It’s a big disappointment and maybe the end of European hopes. It’s our game that is, above all, a disappointment.”
2 – Lyon are guaranteed to finish outside the Ligue 1 top 4 for the second time in the last 3 seasons, having only happened once in the previous 21 (5th in 2013/14). Downgraded. #FCMOL pic.twitter.com/StpKM8H6tH
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) May 8, 2022
Clermont takes an option for maintenance
By winning at home against Montpellier, Clermont garners valuable points in its quest to maintain, while they now have two days left to save themselves (16th with five points ahead of Saint-Etienne, 18th and roadblocker) . After quickly opening the scoring, the Clermontois saw the Montpellier come back to score in the 32nd minute. By converting a penalty, Mohamed Bayo offered victory to the Clermontois, who were able to resist the Montpellier until the final whistle.