Nice did the right thing in Rennes, Metz finally won at home, Hwang decisive for Bordeaux … what to remember from the multiplex of the 18th day

A few minutes after the draw between Lille and Lyon (0-0), four games were on the program of this multiplex, Sunday, December 12. Nice (1-2 in Rennes), Bordeaux (1-2 in Troyes) and Clermont (0-1 in Angers) all three won away, while Metz corrected Lorient (4-1). Back to the highlights of this afternoon.

The performance: Nice wakes up and sticks to the podium

We had left a dying Gym, corrected by Strasbourg last weekend. The Riviera awakening was dashing in Rennes. Without being particularly spectacular, the Niçois brought down the Bretons (1-2). A penalty from Kasper Dolberg and a nice shot in the top corner from Youcef Atal were enough for the Aiglons. Copiously dominated in the second half, they held on, despite a reduction in the score from Benjamin Bourigeaud.

After a difficult series (only one success and two goals scored in five games), Christophe Galtier’s players have relaunched themselves. Doing it in Rennes is a real performance, which situates the solidity of Nice. Thanks to this success, Nice returned to one point behind Rennais. Which stall again at Roazhon Park after a defeat against Lille ten days ago.

The end of the series: Metz finally triumphs at home

Perhaps that is the magic of the end of the year holidays. Unable to win at Saint-Symphorien since January, Metz has – finally – washed away the affront. Sixteen games after their last success in Moselle, the Grenats easily disposed of Lorient (4-1). In a hurry, the Messins struck from the start, scoring three goals in the first twenty minutes. As a symbol, success is also back: FC Metz scored two very lucky first goals, before a sumptuous free kick from the home fireworks Farid Boulaya.

This river score, the Lorraine also owe it to a defensive Lorient at bay. Beaten for the seventh time in a row, the Hakes, the worst attack in Ligue 1, continue to sink. Overtaken by their evening opponents, they are in a worrying 19th place. And nothing says that the trainer Christophe Pélissier will live Christmas on the Morbihan bench …

The player: Hwang keeps the Girondins afloat

Where would Bordeaux be without its striker Hwang Ui-jo? Scorer in Troyes, he offered precious success to the Girondins (1-2). With this new achievement, the South Korean confirmed his status as a providential man. It’s very simple, since his abortive transfer to Sporting Portugal at the end of August, he has scored 6 goals and provided 2 assists in 10 games. And again, an ankle injury kept him away from the field for a month.

Last year, his twelve goals had already allowed the Bordelais to come out of it. Will he still wear the Marines and Whites? It would still be necessary that he is not transferred this winter, a scenario far from being unimaginable. In the meantime, Hwang has allowed the Girondins to extricate themselves from the red zone, with this third success of the season.


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