Luis Enrique’s Winning Rotation and Nice’s Impregnable Defense: Highlights and Lowlights of Ligue 1

The tops

Luis Enrique’s winning rotation

Luis Enrique had decided to turn against Strasbourg on Saturday, and it was a good thing for him. Because PSG won easily (3-0) and were able to give their managers a break, returning from the international break, before facing AC Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday. The icing on the cake, the usual replacements largely contributed to this success. Because after Kylian Mbappé’s opening score, it was Carlos Soler, the highest scorer since March, who made the break. The Spaniard then became a decisive passer for his compatriot Fabian Ruiz, who has also been little used in recent weeks.

“We are discovering players who have played very little since the start of the season, like Bradley (Barcola), (Kang-in) Lee or Fabian (Ruiz). Giving them playing time also allows them to get to know each other and that allows us to be more unpredictable, enjoyed the former Barça coach after the meeting.

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Nice, ever more impregnable fortress

If Nice plays the leading roles this season in the championship, it is partly because the Gym confirms week after week that it is one of the best defenses in Europe. The best rearguard of the five major European championships in terms of goals conceded, in any case. Saturday evening, the Aiglons dominated OM by once again keeping a clean sheet (1-0). This is the sixth time in nine days that this has happened to Francesco Farioli’s men, the fourth in a row. Bluffing. And it ultimately comes as no great surprise that OGCN is the last elite team still undefeated this season. Nice is rarely spectacular, but always solid.

Luck is clearly protecting the pink city this season. Reims can attest to this. The Rémois hit the posts three times during the first period of their match in Toulouse. First on a return from Yunis Abdelhamid (10th), then on a shot from Junya Ito (14th) and finally on a shot from Mohamed Daramy deflected by César Gelabert (45th). If Toulouse obtained a deserved draw after a much better second half (1-1), it is also because they had a lot of success before the break. And this is nothing new. In total, the Pitchounes have now been saved ten times by the uprights this season. Without this baraka, they would perhaps not be 10th in the ranking…

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We may have seen the goal of the season on the Rock. A 58-meter lob from Lamine Camara which allowed Metz to believe in the feat at Louis-II. But the Monegasque artist was also out. Aleksandr Golovin responded to Messin in style. The Russian first equalized with a superb wrapped shot before giving victory to ASM with a free kick magnificently taken close to the post. To the delight of a public who enjoyed the jewelry offered this Sunday.

Les flops

Omari, nightmare at Moustoir

Warmed Omari risks rehashing this cursed derby at Moustoir. The Rennes defender weighed down his team in a remarkable first period for his team, but catastrophic for him. He first had the misfortune of scoring against his side by blocking a ball that had bounced off the post. He then made another technical error to offer the second Lorient goal to Isaak Touré. Bruno Genesio abruptly ended his nightmare by replacing him at half-time. And Rennes never managed to catch up in the second half to get Omari out of this nightmare (2-1).

Diouf, it’s not that yet

He signed in Lens with the delicate task of replacing the essential Seko Fofana, and the 14 million euros paid by the Lens leaders to recruit him raised a lot of expectations. Andy Diouf has not yet responded, and his performance in Le Havre (0-0) reflects the progress that the mid-20-year-old must make to reach the level required by the French vice-champion. Imprecise technically, overwhelmed physically and tactically, he was taken out at half-time. “It must be said, he was not good,” said his trainer Franck Haise. A judgment without appeal.

The refereeing decisions of Lyon – ClermontTwo sequences attracted attention during Clermont’s success at Groupama Stadium against OL (1-2): the ball which would have touched the arm of Shamar Nicholson, then trying to control from the chest on the left side of the field, on the goal of Muhammed-Cham Saracevic (10th), then the duel between Maximiliano Caufriez and Alexandre Lacazette in the first period where the Belgian is suspected of having a hand in his area.

In both cases, there was no change of decision. The VAR validated the first Clermont goal and did not return to the supposed hand of the defender. To the great dismay of OL. The first goal of the winners made the Gones raise eyebrows. “The images are clear, it’s a shame,” reacted Fabio Grosso, while Anthony Lopes seemed even more perplexed. “I would like to review the situation of the first goal, to know if there is a hand or not because I find it incredible that we can control the chest while the ball is coming from behind. That’s how it is , it puts our heads in it.”

2023-10-23 10:09:00
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