Saint-Etienne goes to Troyes
After his first totally crazy success conquered against Clermont before the truce (3-2), Saint-Etienne followed on the ground of Troyes (1-0). Decimated in defense (Moukoudi, Sow, Silva, Camara absent), ASSE also had to do without Denis Bouanga, ill, nor Wahbi Khazri, diminished and only returned in the last half hour, but was able to demonstrate beautiful unit. Returning from the Peruvian selection with a sore ankle, Miguel Trauco was a good start and signed a superb goal with a 25-meter strike that fell under the bar (61st). With 12 points, Claude Puel’s team is only one point behind the first non-relegation … Troyes.
If Etienne Green first stood out in front of Xavier Chavalerin (8th), the Greens had two huge opportunities to open the scoring before the break. But the cross strike from the right of Arnaud Nordin, served by Yvann Maçon, hit the left post (28th), before Jean-Philippe Krasso found the bar alone in front of the goal at the reception of a center of Mason (30th ). After the wonder of Trauco, Nordin missed the break (73rd). Etienne Green was invaluable at the end of the game.
Bordeaux resumed in a crazy match in Metz
After its stunning victory against Reims (3-2) and its heroic but frustrating end to the match against PSG (2-3), Bordeaux had another crazy match, in Metz. But after leading 2-0, then 3-2, the Girondins finally conceded a frustrating draw (3-3), despite a long numerical superiority following the expulsion of Farid Boulaya for a bad gesture on Yacine Adli ( 68th). A result that does not suit either of the two teams for the maintenance operation.
Holder at the forefront of the Gironde attack, Alberth Elis launched Bordeaux by tackling a ball from Rémi Oudin (17th), and came close to the double (21st). The break finally came from Oudin, precise from the left after a service from Javairô Dilrosun (39th). Then in the middle of a nightmare, Metz resurfaced, relying in particular on the tactical reshuffle operated by Frédéric Antonetti at the half-hour mark (entry of Opa Nguette instead of Sikou Niakaté, passage to 4 in defense).
Nicolas De Préville scored the goal of the start of a recovery in pivot after a delivery of Ibrahima Niane on a center of Thomas Delaine (45th). And Nguette, freshly entered, equalized by taking advantage of a deflection of Dylan Bronn of the head on a corner of Farid Boulaya (51st). At 2-2, the game went completely crazy. Bordeaux regained the advantage thanks to Oudin’s double, shifted by Yacine Adli (66th), and a minute later, Boulaya lost his nerves. But at 10 against 11, Metz returned thanks to Nguette, author of a double by cutting off a cross from Fabien Centonze (70th) with his head.
Angers at the finish against Lorient
Despite a very small workforce (seven potential holders absent), Lorient had the best opportunities for an hour in Angers. But the Merlus were not rewarded, and finally cracked, when Jimmy Cabot got a penalty against young Samuel Loric (first match in Ligue 1). Thomas Mangani left no chance for Paul Nardi (68th), to offer success to the SCO (1-0), thus ending a series of four matches without success.
Angers can especially say thank you to his goalkeeper Danijel Petkovic, replacing Paul Bernardoni, who made three saves in the first twenty minutes, which set the tone for his match. Terem Moffi missed a great opportunity before the break (37th). Lorient, on a series of six games without a win, slips dangerously.
Strasbourg draws a draw against Reims
The Stade de Reims have long believed to end their streak without a win in Strasbourg. But Oscar Garcia’s team was caught in the seventh minute of added time (1-1), on a free kick from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde. Cruel for the Rémois, who opened the scoring early. After a big opportunity from his defender Wout Faes, pushed back to the line by an Alsatian foot (20th), Reims had found the opening by Hugo Ekitike (5th goal in L1 this season), receiving a center from Ghislain Konan taking advantage of the call in the void of El Bilal Touré (22nd).
Before Bellegarde’s goal, Strasbourg had already had the opportunity to come back before the break on a penalty obtained by Sanjin Prcic, jostled by Dion Lopy. But Kevin Gameiro shot above (39th), sending the ball into the platform of the Ultras Boys 90, who were celebrating their 30 years.
With this draw, the RCSA climbs to 7th place, while Reims, with 13 points, remains in the danger zone of the standings.