Nice – Lorient: the Aiglons still undefeated but hooked
Since the arrival of Didier Digard on his bench in January, Nice have still not lost and his run was further extended this Sunday. However, the Aiglons suffered against Lorient and even trailed when Bamo Meïté, after a defection from Romain Faivre, scored the first goal of his professional career (0-1, 30th).
But Nice persevered, believing they took advantage of a penalty eventually canceled by VAR, before being rewarded for their efforts in the 10th performance of the season by Gaëtan Laborde, author of a goal full of will (1-1 , 70th). With this result, Nice now remains on 13 games without defeat, but loses ground in the race for Europe. The Azureans, like the Merlus, are five lengths behind Lille, fifth.
Strasbourg – Auxerre: Racing’s great operation
Racing had not won for three days and that offered a nice relief this Sunday against AJA (2-0). Because before this meeting, Strasbourg was tied on points with Auxerre, the former relegated. Frédéric Antonetti’s team quickly made the difference in the 5th minute on a mule attack by Gerzino Nyamsi.
Radu then shone in the Ajaist goal, notably diverting Diallo’s penalty (22nd) and then winning his face-to-face with the Senegal striker (50th), but Diallo pressed on and scored the 2-0 at the end of the game (86th). Auxerre had the chances to come back, but Gaëtan Perrin missed the target in an ideal position (50th). Thanks to this success, Strasbourg performed a great operation and was three points ahead of his opponent of the day, still 17th, with a much better goal difference (-13 to -27). On the side of Auxerre, the six-match unbeaten run ended at a very bad time.
Troyes – Brest: Estac still can’t
Troyes remained on two points in ten days and the Aube club probably thought they had done the hardest part in eight minutes. Led to the score on a long shot from Pierre Lees-Melou deflected by Adil Rami (0-1, 30th). Estac knocked everything over in eight minutes. Enraged, Renaud Ripart equalized with a shot that Marco Bizot was not without blame (1-1, 34th).
Then Rony Lopes, checked for the first time by the Dutch goalkeeper (26th), then made excellent control before rolling his ball perfectly (2-1, 38th). But we had to keep the score for Patrick Kisnorbo’s formation, Ripart and Rami, two of his leaders, came out and Brest came back on a heavy penalty, converted by Romain Del Castillo (2-2, 74th). With this result, Troyes, who has not won in thirteen games, remains 19th, three units behind his host of the day, the first non-relegation player.
Montpellier – Clermont: Wahi continues, also Montpellier
Before Michel Der Zakarian returned to his bench, the Hérault club was in contention to keep and he has been better ever since. Much better. With Der Zak’, Montpellier played six games, won five and drew one. And it reverses opposite scenarios.
After Stephy Mavididi (13th) touched the post, his team cracked the first, when Saïf-Eddine Khaoui scored opportunistically despite a great save from Benjamin Lecomte (0-1, 32nd). But then Elye Wahi took care of everything: completely forgotten from a corner, the striker equalized with a well-placed header (1-1, 61st), then doubled the lead with a cross (2-1, 72nd). If he had to leave injured, Wahi, who broke his record for goals in a season (12), would have already provided the essentials. Thanks to him, despite the exclusion of Jordan Ferri in extra time, Montpellier doubled their opponent of the day and is 11th.