Ligue 1: Perfect operation, Aiglon of high flight, defense in distress: the Tops and Flops of the 16th day

Tops

• OM, minimalist victory for maximum profits

And the big winner of this 16th day of the championship is … Olympique de Marseille. Three days after signing a more than sluggish success against Troyes (1-0), the Phocaeans once again won on the smallest of margins this Wednesday, this time in Nantes (0-1). Nothing to strut about? Perhaps, especially since the Canaries played ten for an hour following the expulsion of Nicolas Pallois. However, when it comes time to do the math and take a look at the standings, we see that Jorge Sampaoli’s proteges have climbed to second place, ahead of Rennes, Nice and Lens. With in addition one match less, namely the one that was interrupted in Lyon.

• Todibo, Aiglon with very sharp claws

Jean-Clair Todibo can annoy some because of his confidence, disarming for a player of his age and who has, moreover, already played bad tricks during his career. But he is also, without a doubt, one of the best defenders in our Ligue 1. On Wednesday, the player trained in Toulouse delivered a very high level performance on the lawn of the Parc des Princes, where Nice has Valiantly hooked PSG (0-0). With his reading of the game, his sense of placement and his liveliness in interventions, the Azuréen caused serious problems for the Parisian armada led by Lionel Messi, fresh seven times Ballon d’Or. And his quality of stimulus was also a valuable asset for his training.

• Volland, finally boss size

Key element of Niko Kovac’s eleven last season, Kevin Volland has disappointed more than one since the start of the 2021-22 fiscal year. Too discreet, not sharp enough, the German has often crystallized the critics. This Wednesday, however, difficult to blame him for anything. Certainly, the former Bayer Leverkusen did not score on the lawn of Angers. But in the absence of Wissam Ben Yedder, substitute at the kick-off, the number 31 of the ASM has perfectly assumed his role of boss of the attack. He has indeed largely contributed to the success of his family (1-3) by delivering two assists during the first period, for the attention of Myron Boadu then Sofiane Diop. Goldsmith’s work.

He is one of the best players in our league. Téji Savanier is an elegant, precise and decisive midfielder. But also cheeky. In Metz, the Montpellier playing master chose to aim for the goal where most of the other shooters would have thought only to cross. On a very eccentric free kick, on the right, the former Nîmes tried a “juninhesque” shot. The balloon floated. Oukidja has not moved. The nets shook. Better still: this goal, probably the most beautiful of this 16th day, put the MHSC on the rails of a nice success (1-3).

Do you know which is the best team in the championship for a month? Paris Saint-Germain? No. Stade Rennais? No more. Look no further: it is indeed the Stade Brestois. Winner – not without difficulties, it is true – of Saint-Etienne (1-0), the men of Michel Der Zakarian won a fifth success in a row in Ligue 1. A record series in the history of the club. No other team has done so well since the end of October. On the evening of the 9th day, after a defeat in Nice, the Bretons were penultimate in Ligue 1. Here they are now in the middle of the table, just two points behind Strasbourg, sixth. Impressive.

• LOSC can thank its Portuguese colony

That’s it, Lille has once again tasted victory in the league. In Rennes, what is more, where PSG had broken their teeth (2-0) and where Lyon had sunk (4-1) a few weeks ago. To triumph over an unbeaten Breton formation for 13 games (1-2), the Mastiffs relied on two members of their Portuguese colony: Xeka and Renato Sanches. The first opened the scoring by concluding a clear collective movement. The second doubled the bet by offering himself a nice solo act just before the break. And the LOSC was thus able to put the forward motion again.

The Flops

This is not the first time that we point the finger at the deficiencies of Bordeaux in the defensive sector. The recent meetings against Brest (1-2) or Metz (3-3), in particular, had already highlighted the porosity of the Gironde rearguard. It exploded into a thousand pieces on the lawn of Strasbourg, Wednesday evening (5-2). Total lack of serenity, loss of ball in dangerous areas, surprising omissions in marking… Nothing, absolutely nothing was going on in the Bordeaux ranks, and poor Benoît Costil has too often been left to his own devices. After 16 days, the FCGB has already conceded the trifle of 37 goals. No L1 team does worse.

• Messi, Di Maria and Mbappé spoiled too much

It’s a stat that says a lot about the awkwardness that escorted the Parisians throughout their meeting against Nice on Wednesday night (0-0). In total, Mauricio Pochettino’s players attempted 22 shots. However, they only framed five. And none, above all, has finished in the end. We think in particular of this 100% Argentinian duel between Angel Di Maria and Walter Benitez, won by the Nice porter (51st), of this strike from Kylian Mbappé that the whole Park saw at the bottom, but who spun alongside (64th) or to this attempt largely above Lionel Messi (83rd). Shooting as many times on goal without scoring, this had not happened at PSG since 2016.

• OL, damn additional time

It’s a very bad habit, one that must make you want to pull your hair out. Several times this season, Lyon have lost points in added time of an L1 match. The most striking example is undoubtedly that of the trip to Nice at the end of October (3-2). But we could also cite the derby against Saint-Etienne (1-1) or, even earlier, the draw conceded against Clermont (3-3). This Wednesday, the Gones could not even console themselves with a point, since they bowed to Reims (1-2). Hugo Ekitike scored the goal of the Champagne victory in the … 90th + 2.

• The Hake no longer respond

The start of the season of FC Lorient had given rise to great promises, between the millimeter free kicks of Armand Laurienté, the sense of goal of Terem Moffi and prestigious victories against Monaco (1-0) or Lille (2-1 ). Slowly, however, the Hakes fell into line and, from now on, their situation is clearly worrying. In Troyes (2-0), Christophe Pélissier’s players conceded a fifth loss in a row, recording a ninth consecutive game without the slightest victory. They have only scored one goal in their last five outings and, with only 13 goals on the clock, have the worst attack of the elite. Or how to go from a Top 10 to the bottom of the table (16th) in two months.