DECRYPTION – At the end of the Alsatian demonstration Sunday evening on the Losc lawn (1-4), at the end of the 19th day of Ligue 1, find out what pleased… and displeased the editorial staff of Figaro.
TOPS
The “scorer” Joaquin Panichelli
In difficulty in recent weeks, the Racing center forward set the record straight during his team’s recital on Sunday evening in Lille (1-4). The Argentinian opened the scoring by mystifying Chancel Mbemba with a superb oriented control, before deceiving the northern goalkeeper Berke Özer (25th). His 11th achievement of the season in the league, second top scorer in Ligue 1 behind Marseille striker Mason Greenwood, Racing’s No. 9 once again showed all his class and his fox flair for the surfaces until his exit at the end of the match. A scorer full of panache.
Skip the ad
The “masters” Julio Enciso and Valentin Barco
What a match from the two Strasbourg players. The first came to double the lead barely two minutes – 1’40 precisely – after the opening score of his Argentinian friend, in order to further knock out the Mastiffs (26th). The Paraguayan playmaker then stood out as a decisive passer for Martial Godo’s double (72nd). A player of very high quality, generating constant danger on the opposing goal.
Also read
Ligue 1: humiliated by Strasbourg, Lille throws its crisis
The second, still technically correct, made Lille’s midfielders and defenders live hell. Even if he did not score, the Argentinian distinguished himself in each of his team’s rapid transitions, making his counterparts dizzy. Racing’s No. 32 finished the game with no less than 97% of successful passes… A real hub for this Alsatian team.
Hugo Pfeiffer / Icon Sport
Martial Godo clinic
The young 22-year-old Strasbourg striker scored twice in this match, his 4th and 5th goals of the season. First by catapulting a daring diving header on an excellent cross-shot from Diego Moreira (58th), before closing the Alsatian festival with a flat surgical foot, at the end of another convincing rapid transition from his team (72nd). A player full of promise.
The flamboyant game of Racing
We wondered if the hasty departure of Liam Rosenior for Chelsea was not going to bog down the Strasbourg machine… It doesn’t seem so. On the contrary, even. New collective festival from the Alsatians on Sunday evening, lethal on each of their rapid transitions with their offensive quartet Enciso-Panichelli-Barco-Godo, all crowned with a (very) technically correct Guéla Doué. A treat to watch play. A team of great talents, which, on a good day, is formidable. Gary O’Neil has perfectly grasped the potential of this team and also manages to sublimate it (for the moment). The Lille defense has paid the price…
FLOPS
Skip the ad
Chancel Mbemba disastrous
The northern defender experienced an ordeal against Racing. First on the receiving end of Panichelli’s opener, the former Olympique de Marseille player is also not entirely clear on the three other goals conceded by his team. With a hazardous placement and a sense of anticipation still limited, on an evening like this, the 31-year-old defender seems more like a pea for his team than anything else…
Also read
Ligue 1: “Total confidence”, Létang maintains his confidence in Genesio
Giroud and the attack of the inert Mastiffs
Even if Matias Fernandez-Pardo came to save the honor with a beautiful strike in the final seconds of the game (93rd) – after an Alsatian defensive error -, the Lille offensives were powerless. Ethan Mbappé provoked a lot and worked hard to allow his team to get back into the match, but without ever being really dangerous in the zone of truth. Same for veteran Olivier Giroud – whistled during his replacement (80th) -, far too lonely on the attacking front and deprived of good balls to really exist in the opposing area despite a few opportunities. The former Blues center forward hasn’t scored in more than 10 matches… It’s starting to happen.
Losc in distress
A fifth consecutive defeat for the Northerners, and in what way… A real beating. The latter only existed for a quarter of an hour and currently seem completely lost, powerless as soon as the rhythm and level rise opposite. The absence of their captain Benjamin André does not help things but it is true that the situation is becoming urgent for Lille, which is letting its competitors slip down the rankings, still without the slightest victory in 2026, and ridiculed by its own supporters… Bruno Genesio, still maintained by his management, must find solutions, and urgently. This is catastrophic.
