Before the big names Lille and Lyon, which respectively host Reims and Metz, this Sunday, four meetings took place in the afternoon, as part of the 20th day of Ligue 1. On the program, the galleys of Nantes and Saint-Etienne , the successes of Rennes and Bordeaux. Here’s what to remember.
The derby: Rennes overthrows Brest and does not let go of Europe
Stade Rennais won in pain in a Breton derby hanging in Brest (2-1). Slowed down last week by Nantes (0-0) and Lyon (2-2), Julien Stéphan’s men relaunched in the race for European places and returned to Monaco (4th with 36 points).
Led to the score in the 4th minute, after a goal from Honorat, they overturned valiant Brestois by Bourigeaud (7th) then Grenier, on penalty (77th). Rennes goes on to a 7th unbeaten game in L1. On the other hand, stop for Brest, 11th, who had not lost at home since October.
The figure: 19 years and 2 months
As the average age of the holders aligned with entry by Saint-Etienne, in Strasbourg except the porter Jessy Moulin (35 years). Decimated by a multitude of positive Covid-19 cases (10 players and 8 staff members), and 4 injured, the Greens had to call on young people without experience. Seven out of eleven were trained at the club.
This makeover was hardly successful at ASSE, beaten 1-0, the fault of a goal from Ajorque (29th). Boudebouz missed a penalty. Strasbourg signs a third victory in a row in 2021.
The flop: Nantes and Domenech miss the boat
After two draws against Rennes (0-0) and Montpellier (1-1), FC Nantes version Raymond Domenech was again hooked, this Sunday, at Beaujoire. The Canaries conceded a new draw against Lens (1-1), while they still led in the score ten minutes from time.
On a penalty, Imran Louza had put his people on track (36th) but Gaël Kakuta, who had missed a penalty at the half-hour mark, equalized (81st). Result, if Domenech has still not lost in L1, he still has not won either, in three matches. This is the 11th meeting without winning 3 points (7 draws, 4 defeats) on the Nantes side.
The top: Bordeaux breaks the series in Nice
The Girondins had not won any of their last 12 Ligue 1 matches against Nice (6 defeats, 6 draws). Without Hatem Ben Arfa, still injured, Jean-Louis Gasset’s men broke the curse at the Allianz Riviera (3-0).
The difference was made in the second half, thanks to Ui-Jo Hwang (50th) then Paul Baysse (75th, scorer for the first time in Ligue 1 since the 2016-2017 season… with Nice) then Toma Basic (87th). Bordeaux is 8th, Nice 14th.
