Ligue 1, 15th day – Lopes, Rafinha, Gueye, OM, LOSC: the tops and flops of the 15th day

A Brazilian magician can hide another from PSG. Neymar was not there but Rafinha admirably took over against Lorient. At the origin of the penalty obtained and transformed by Kylian Mbappé on the opening of the Parisian scoring, decisive passer on the goal of the break signed Moise Kean, the former Barcelona feasted on the lawn of the Parc des Princes. He was above all the great architect of an essential success for Thomas Tuchel’s men after the defeat against Lyon and before the shock in Lille. An impact worthy of Neymar which confirms the growing influence of Rafinha in the capital.

There was something to be disturbed about. Lille moved to Dijon with an unusual leader status. And in a particular context, with the imminent sale of the club and the probable departure of its president, Gérard Lopez. But the Mastiffs have not lost the North. Quite the contrary. They have mastered their subject perfectly to sign a flawless victory in Dijon (0-2). Christophe Galtier’s team doesn’t just play good football. She also has a shapely head. It is not in its place by chance. And Sunday’s shock against PSG is all the more enticing.

Numbers never lie. Habib Diallo and Ludovic Ajorque together weigh 50% of the goals of the Strasbourg Racing Clubs this season. And given the very difficult first part of the season that the Alsatian club is going through, having two prolific scorers is an absolute need. Wednesday evening, on the lawn of Angers, Diallo and Ajorque struck together to seek a precious success on the lawn of Angers, a lawn difficult to take. Diallo – Ajorque is therefore 11 goals out of 22 (5 against 6) and also a sense of the penultimate gesture. The former Metz player, landed at Maineau at the very end of the transfer window, also has three assists on his record. Ajorque has four. And the two men each delivered an assist for the other. One goal, one pass each and it’s the RSC that breathes.

David Guion is a man with flair. While his team stumbled against a coherent FC Nantes in his den of Auguste-Delaune, the Champagne technician used his bench to reverse the course of the meeting. And it worked. It all happened not with several rotations, but with just one. It is the entry of Mathieu Cafaro, not at best in recent weeks, which has transformed the face of his team. After replacing Kaj Sierhuis in the 61st minute, the attacking midfielder was involved in all three goals scored in eight minutes flat. A decisive pass, a penalty obtained, and a milllimited strike allowed the Champenois to return Nantes. Reims won, and it had to be. Thanks to Cafaro. But above all to the inspiration of Guion.

What a funny evening for Anthony Lopes. The Rhone doorman was the main player in the draw between Lyon and Brest 2-2), a frustrating draw for the Gones who were emerging from a remarkable success against PSG at the Parc. But taking a global balance, the evening of the Portuguese international was more negative than positive. If the goal scored against his side, from the back, was more of a stroke of luck than anything else, his completely failed exit in the box at the start of added time clearly cost his club two points. Very theatrical after this shock, as against PSG after the charge of Neymar, Lopes then thought of redeeming himself by taking out the Breton penalty. But the VAR saw its stroke of mischief and its premature exit from its line. The second attempt was unstoppable. Once is not custom, Lopes weighed down his family. But at least with him, we don’t get bored.

Pape Gueye, the red of discord. Expelled in the 36th minute of the game lost by OM on the lawn of Stade Rennais (2-1), the Marseillais had a very eventful match on the lawn of Roazhon Park. Excellent during the last outings, the former Le Havre had once again regained the confidence of André Villas-Boas for this shock of the 15th day. Very active, and a little fiery, the midfielder delivered a very good performance, rewarded with a superb goal, his first with OM.

But his desire to do well also cost him two yellows in the space of 36 minutes and to be always at the limit. The second, received after having given an involuntary nudge to M’Baye Niang, after a head butt played while backing, provoked an outcry among the technical staff of OM, furious at the decision of Clément Turpin , but also his inflexibility in relation to the VAR which he did not consult. A few minutes before the famous incident, Gueye had already come close to expulsion for putting his crampon in the face of Hamari Traoré (28th).

Everything was in place for Montpellier to assert itself as a possible candidate for the podium. It was not the first time this season. It would not be undeserved either as the Hérault team has displayed qualities in the game this season. And Metz looked like the perfect victim with a five-game winning streak. But when the opportunity to confirm arises, the MHSC has the annoying habit of missing out. It happened again. Ineffective in front and behind, the Montpellierians suffered the law of the Lorrainers. And the impression that they still lack a little something to really be part of the L1 gotha ​​is all the more clear.

Taking three goals on Sunday at Lorient, who had not scored in five matches, already said a lot about the current state of Nimes. But the Crocs fell even lower against Nice. Because they were at home against the Aiglons clearly in the hard. Because they played power-play for much of the second half after Morgan Schneiderlin was sent off. And because despite this rather favorable context, they still conceded two goals in the money-time and an 8th defeat in 9 matches at the same time (0-2). What to have the morale in the socks. For the Gardois, it is always more urgent to raise their heads.

Vincent BREGEVIN with Alexandre COIQUIL