During the 31st day, Sunday, the Niçois suffered the law of Stade Brestois. A precious success for the Bretons, as for Auxerre and Strasbourg, winners of Nantes and Ajaccio. In front, Monaco and Marseille responded blow for blow.
Seven games from the end of the season in Ligue 1, the title seems a little more promised to PSG but the suspense is still strong in the fight for maintenance. Sunday, April 16, three teams fighting to stay in the top flight took valuable points during the 31st day. For its part, Lille bounced back well at home against Montpellier after their defeat at Angers last weekend. Marseille and Monaco, winners against Troyes and Lorient, continue their quest for the Champions League.
Monaco and OM hunt C1, Lille can still believe in Europe
Marseille did not miss their chance. After Lens’ defeat, OM wasted no time in clinching second place by dismissing Troyes (3-1). Holder at the forefront of the Marseille attack, Vitinha scored his first two goals in Ligue 1. Opponent of OM from a distance for the C1, Monaco dominated Lorient without trembling at Louis-II thanks to goals from Krépin Diatta, Aleksandr Golovin and Kevin Volland (3-1). ASM temporarily caught up with the Phocaeans, before OM resumed their position as runners-up to PSG. The Monegasques are fourth and still in ambush for a jump seat in C1. The fight for second place will keep all its promises until the 38th day.
Just behind, Lille also maintains the rhythm. Beaten 2-1 by the Mastiffs after opening the scoring in the 24th minute thanks to Issiaga Sylla, the Héraultais let go in the last 20 minutes, cashing in quick succession the achievements of Jonathan David and Rémy Cabella. Undefeated in Ligue 1 since February 12, Téji Savanier’s teammates see their seven-game unbeaten streak come to an end. “We haven’t gone very far. If we put it 2-0, maybe we win it. We’ll never know. But they put two in three minutes”, regretted Montpellier coach Michel Der Zakarian. Lille regains its 5th place in Rennes and can believe in a European future next season.
Brest, Strasbourg and Auxerre win and remain in the race to maintain
In a season with four runs in Ligue 2, it is an understatement to say that the slightest point is expensive to keep your head above water. This Sunday, Stade Brestois seized the opportunity to overthrow, at home, OGC Nice (1-0), the last French representative in the European Cup. A goal from Jérémy Le Douaron in the 12th minute was enough to delight Eric Roy’s men.
At the same time, Auxerre got the better of Nantes, at Abbé-Deschamps (2-1). The finalist of the next Coupe de France (April 29 against Toulouse) sees his opponent of the day pass him in front of the standings. The Strasbourgeois won an important match against Ajaccio (3-1), thanks to the decisive entries of Mouhamadou Habib Diarra and Yuito Suzuki.
If the 18th, 19th and 20th places are starting to take shape (Troyes, Angers and Ajaccio), with at least ten points behind the first non-relegation player (Brest), the fight to avoid 17th position promises to be breathtaking: Strasbourg, 17th with 29 points, Brest, 16th with 31 points, Nantes, 15th with 31 points, and Auxerre, 14th with 32 points, are still all in the pocket.