Last efforts before comfort. While the end of year celebrations and the winter break is fast approaching, Ligue 1 players are getting closerare to play their last game of the year, Wednesday 22 December.
While several teams have rather well negotiated this first part of the season, like Marseille, runner-up to PSG in the standings, or Rennes and Nice, in the fight for the podium, others did not hold up, like Saint-Étienne and Bordeaux. The opportunity for them to end the year 2021 on a good note. This will also be the goal of Lille and Lyon, who failed to meet the expectations of the start of the season. Here are the different issues at conbirth for this 19th day of the championship.
Marseille: second place objective
The Marseille club, currently on a series of three victories in its last four meetings in the elite, seems well and truly set to pass Christmas in the heights of the standings, and maybe meven in second position, just behind the Parisian ogre. To be sure, Jorge Sampaoli’s men must win against Reims.
A success which would confirm the fine first half of the season achieved by the Olympians. Satisfying results, due in part to their defensive base, since they only conceded 14 goals after 17 games played in L1 this season, which had not happened to them since the 1998/99 season (13).
4 – Dimitri Payet has been a decisive passer in each of his last 4 Ligue 1 matches with Marseille (4 assists), tying his longest streak of its kind in the top flight after April 2021 and April-May 2015. Caviars. #RCSAOM pic.twitter.com/ChKftOtBqt
– OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 12, 2021
Monaco-Rennes and Nice-Lens, the race for Europe continues
Stade Rennais, traveling on the Monaco lawn, can secure a place on the podium in case of victory. But in the event of a misstep against the Monegasques, he would expose himself to a return from OGC Nice, which receives RC Lens. An opponent, certainly in a bad patch (3 draws and 2 defeats in his last 5 games in L1) but author, on the whole, of a good first part of the season under the orders of Franck Haise. It is therefore a distant duel for the podium that emerges between Rennes and Nice, but also another for Europe between Lens (6th) and Monaco (8th) which are only separated by a small point in the standings.
Lille and Lyon: a victory to finish well?
Far from their usual standards, the Lille and Lyonnais have not been able to meet expectations. The two formations, which had left in a draw on the last day, are respectively 11th and 13th in the standings, far from the podium they are used to courting.
The Rhone will host FC Metz, relegated but victorious on the last day against Lorient. The reigning French champion must move to Bordeaux, to try to go up the slope. But uncertainty dominates in Gironde, where several players in the workforce have tested positive Tuesday. If the situation worsens, the match could be postponed.
Saint-Étienne-Nantes: time for redemption for the Greens?
This season looks, for the moment, like nothing more than a nightmare for the Stéphanois and their supporters. Red lantern of Ligue 1, the Forez club have only found their way to victory twice this season. In order to overcome this sporting crisis, the Greens called on Pascal Dupraz to replace Claude Puel, dismissed after the heavy defeat against Rennes (5-0) and replaced by Julien Sablé.
Winner this weekend against Lyon-La Duchère in the Coupe de France, Holy-Étienne has changed his mind, even if he is undoubtedly too late.ôt for talk about healing or convalescence. The objective now for the Savoyard coach, to win against Nantes to allow the club to get back on track before the trEve.
After qualifying in @French Cup , focus on a half of the week marked by #ASSEFCN in @ Ligue1UberEats
– AS Saint-Étienne (@ASSEofficiel) December 20, 2021