The first two in the standings took full points this Saturday, during the 33rd day of L2. Not FC Metz, the big loser of the day…
Ligue 2 leaders Le Havre won the Normandy derby in Caen 2-1 on Saturday on Matchday 33 and took another step towards the top flight, while runners-up Bordeaux took to the air. The Girondins, thanks to their 2-0 success at Valenciennes, took advantage of Metz’s home draw against Paris FC (1-1) to now have a three-point lead over the Mosellens.
The HAC, thanks to this precious success with the best home team this season, has a nine-point lead over third place. Only the first two will go up to Ligue 1 next season. A goal just before the break, another just after: the people of Le Havre were extremely efficient. Defender Gautier Lloris opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, before Oussama Targhalline doubled the lead in the 56th. Despite a goal conceded at the end of the match (Emmanuel Ntim) and the exclusion of Amir Richardson (90 + 5), Le Havre chained a 31st match without defeat and now threatens the old record of invincibility in L2 established by Sedan ( 32 matches, season 1954-55).
Bad operation for Metz
In the race for second place, Metz made the bad move of the day. The Messins were first led (13th) following a superb collective movement from the PFC concluded by a no less superb strike from Morgan Guilavogui. But the best striker in L2, Georges Mikautadze, replied quickly on penalty (18th) and scored his 20th goal of the season. He could even have doubled the bet shortly after but his goal was disallowed due to a foul on Maxime Bernauer on recovery.
The Messins then failed to make the difference, while Bordeaux finally found the fault in Valenciennes thanks to a free kick perfectly struck by Yoann Barbet (68th). The Girondins then took shelter thanks to the 16th goal of the season from Josh Maja (82nd).
At the bottom of the ranking, a success in the dying seconds against Pau (3-2) allows the Nîmes (18th) to still believe in maintaining, five points from the first non-relegation, Annecy (16th), hanging on Quevilly (2 -2). In the other meetings, Rodez and Saint-Etienne (1-1) and Bastia and Amiens (1-1) shared the points. The Corsicans nevertheless go back to 4th place while waiting for the meeting between Sochaux and Dijon on Monday (8:45 p.m.). Guingamp is 9th after its victory against Laval (3-1) and Grenoble (7th) won at home against bottom side Niort (2-0).
