Lille sinks Lorient, Strasbourg continues, Troyes wakes up in Ligue 1

Quiet Lille against Lorient

When nothing goes … Without a win in Ligue 1 since September 22, a modified Lorient showed up in Lille to try to revive. Exit the five-man defense, Christophe Pelissier had chosen to return to a more classic 4-4-2 at kick-off. A change which absolutely did not stop the negative spiral of the Hakes, beaten by a LOSC which did not need to shine and was content to take advantage of the opposing errors (3-1).

Well in place, the Bretons and their goalkeeper paid dearly for their approximations. Lihadji first opened the scoring after a center from Bamba returned by Nardi on Petrot (10th). The Lorient goalkeeper then repelled a free kick from Yilmaz on Jenz, who scored against his side (20th). Before getting a hole on his aerial exit on Reinildo’s third goal (38th). More enterprising after the break against a serene LOSC, Lorient lacked precision or stumbled on Grbic but ended up saving the honor thanks to Soumano (90 + 3). The Hakes remain roadblockers, the Mastiffs are getting closer to European places.

Strasbourg goes on to Clermont

Strasbourg is no longer being stopped. In Clermont, the Alsatians signed a third victory in a row in the Championship (2-0). A success acquired in mastery despite a less prominent Ajorque and some clumsiness in the last gesture. Stéphan’s men are now in fourth place, two points behind OM.

Racing did not really suffer against the reworked attack of the Clermontois. Conversely, Djoco was forced into several parades, in particular on attempts by Gameiro (4th) and Aholou (29th). After having crossed too much a new strike (41st), the former Sevilla striker unlocked the part of a dive before the break (1-0). On the other hand, he missed the inevitable at close range to make the break (52nd). Without consequence. Because the Alsatians were able to take advantage of the largesse offered by a Clermont forced to expose themselves to return. Served by Thomasson in transition, Bellegarde saw his off-target shot diverted into his own goal by Hountondji (77th). In the hard, the Auvergnats are only one point ahead of the red zone.

Troyes makes Montpellier crack

In great shape to end 2021, Montpellier is struggling at the start of the year. Three days after their setback in Strasbourg (1-3), the Héraultais fell again against Troyes (0-1). Reduced to ten after the exclusion of Savanier (62nd), guilty of having stepped on the knee of El Hajjam, they ended up cracking at the end of the match. Europeans two days ago, the men of Dall’Oglio plunge back to ninth place.

Applied, the Trojans could however have had a more complicated evening if Gallon had not released the early attempt by Ferri (6th), or if Wahi had not missed his whim on an offering from Savanier (21st). But they gradually extinguished the offensives of the MHSC and perfectly exploited their numerical superiority after the hour mark. Left alone at the entrance to the surface, Chavalerin adjusted Omlin after a center badly returned by the opposing defense (74th). For the second match of Bruno Irles, ESTAC offers a little air and goes back to 15th place.