The match: 2-1
Dark lens. Despite Florian Sotoca’s opening score with a logical penalty (1-0), following a foul by Alexandre Oukidja on Wesley Saïd, the Northerners exploded under the double effect of the talent of Georges Mikautadze, author of a double (34th, 45th + 3), and a solid Metz team, well established and valiant (1-2). It was enough, moreover, to win as the Lensois demonstrated an unfathomable technical weakness, between missed passes, American-style controls and an obvious lack of collective bond.
The Lorraine club is back up to the level of Lorient (which is still 16th, 26 points each) and must be really disappointed to have finished with the clashes against the reigning vice-champion since they have stolen six points this season ( 1-0 first leg victory on September 16). And this success, largely deserved, should lead to some reconsiderations among the Sang et Or.
Franck Haise, however, did not remain inactive by changing four players per hour of play, by modifying his tactical scheme with an extremely rare 4-3-3 but without notable effects. This outing even resembles the start of a crisis: the coach must find ways to wake up an apathetic, lost group. Who discovers opponents who have perfectly deciphered his style. But how can we get through this without a minimum of technical accuracy and collective sense? We have rarely seen Lens so out of sorts, so mechanical and uninspired. And this impacts all lines.
Lens must react to believe in European qualification. Even if today, Haise will mainly seek to find a collective identity before talking about Europe. The team burned jokers while Metz, thanks to this day, can still believe in maintaining.
The player: Georges Mikautadze
He is the man who can save Metz from the descent. Since his return on loan from Ajax, Mikautadze has led by example. His left shot, after clearing four Lensois defenders, was truly phenomenal in the speed of execution, the power and the angle found (34th). Just before the break, he did it again with a perfect dive full of class (45th + 3). Here he is with 7 goals in the last 7 matches. The numbers say it all about its weight.
The number: 1
Lens took one point out of the last twelve possible. And it is rare to see the Northerners, after their draw at home against Le Havre (1-1), let these points slip away against the little ones from Ligue 1. Clermont, the next opponent, can see this as a sign…
