Toulouse can’t stop, the Der Zakarian effect in Montpellier, the intense struggle of the top scorers… What to remember from Sunday’s matches

While Olympique de Marseille, winner (2-0) of Clermont on Saturday, approaches Paris, defeated (3-1) in Monaco, the 23rd day of Ligue 1 continued on Sunday February 12. The promoted Toulouse offered a precious success against Stade Rennes (3-1), which gave up their fifth place to Lille, winners of Strasbourg (2-0). Three days after changing their coach, Montpellier scored three points by dominating Brest (3-0). In the fight to maintain, Angers and Auxerre neutralized each other (1-1), while Reims scored a card (4-0).

Toulouse, the most prolific team in Europe

Toulouse confirms its standards and its average of three goals per game in 2023. Winner of Stade Rennes (3-1) thanks to goals from Ratao (27th), Aboukhlal (28th) and Dallinga (37th), the TFC continues its excellent momentum with 16 points taken in Ligue 1 in 2023. With 30 goals scored in all competitions since the start of 2023, Toulouse is the most prolific team in Europe. At the head of the gondola is Thijs Dallinga. The Dutch striker has found the net seven times since the start of the year. With a first victory against a team of the top 6, the TFC finally breaks its glass ceiling. Conversely, Rennes moved away from the podium and lost its fifth place in favor of Lille.

The intense fight at the top of the scoring charts

In the absence of Kylian Mbappé (13 goals), injured, his competitors take the opportunity to compete for the place of top scorer in the championship. By opening the scoring on a penalty and doubling the foxing of the surfaces against Strasbourg, Lille’s Jonathan David (who scored his 5th double of the season) came back up to Monegasque Wissam Ben Yedder, with 14 goals. But the Englishman Folarin Balogun, who scored the third goal of the Reims demonstration in the Champagne derby against Troyes (4-0), took his total to 15 goals, to take the lead alone.

Michel Der Zakarian in Montpellier, the perfect rule of three

Three days after his appointment, after three training sessions, Montpellier took three points. After the dismissal of Romain Pitau at the start of the week, Michel Der Zakarian signs a perfect debut with the MHSC by winning against his former club Stade Brestois (3-0). Taking advantage of an own goal and a penalty, the Montpellier team dominated the Brestois from start to finish. Arrived with the main mission of “keep the club in Ligue 1“, the technician who has already spent time in Hérault (2017-2021) gives his team some air, which had recorded five defeats in its last six games in the league.