Ligue 1: Monaco does not let go of the podium, Montpellier regained color, Lorient in distress
The good move: Monaco crushes the Messins
To perhaps tend to make Myron Boadu more responsible, in front of who had finally released his counter on Wednesday in Angers (1-3), Niko Kovac and Monaco advanced at the kick-off to Louis-II without Wissam Ben Yedder, the home scorer. But rather than the Dutch striker, it is Sofiane Diop who attested to his good form of the moment against Metz (2-0). The French Espoirs international, already a scorer against the SCO, scored his second but of the week, his 5th of the season, benefiting from a good pressing from Boadu from the second minute. Positioned in 10, Kevin Volland made the break from the penalty spot (44th), before Gelson Martins (57th) and the “supersub” Ben Yedder (87th) drive the point home, allowing the ASM to chain a second success which propels her to 6th place in Ligue 1, just three points from the podium and Marseille. Without defeat for two away games, Metz plunges back (19th).
The player: Elye Wahi, new X factor
Like Kovac, Olivier Dall’Oglio had also decided to do without his number 9 against Clermont. Preferred to start at Valère Germain, in a bad patch and silent for 10 games, Elye Wahi was quick to agree with his coach. The promising Montpellier, 18, scored his third goal of the season with a splendid and unstoppable half-volley towards the skylight of Ouparine Djoco (27th). More often used as a winger, the native of Evry-Courcouronnes (Essonne) allowed his team to return to the first part of the table (8th) thanks to his 7th victory of the season. Clermont, who has won only one of his last 15 games in L1, continues his difficult learning of the elite, 17th one point behind the jump-off.
The hard blow: Reims with its head in the bucket
This reception at Angers had taken on all the finery of a dirty afternoon for Reims. We sum up, pell-mell: a huge blunder from Predrag Rajković fortunately without consequence from the 10th minute, a severe exclusion for Valon Berisha (36th) and the Rémois, one hour to ten, then an equally harsh penalty whistled against Azor Matusiwa and transformed by Sofiane Boufal (50th). It even turned sour when Hugo Ekitike only seeks the post in an ideal position (56th), then he saw his penalty stopped by Danijel Petković (58th). Finally to withdraw – the goalkeeper was not on his line – then converted by an unimpressed Ekitike (59th) and already author of his 7th achievement despite his 19 years. But when nothing goes … The Angevins have finally cracked the Rémois, with this but assassin of Angelo Fulgini (1-2, 75th), and climb to 7th rank. Handicapped by their numerical inferiority, the Rémois (14th) could not surf on their success in Lyon (1-2).
The number: 10
The series was tenacious, it is not yet ready to end for the Merlus: Lorient had no victory in its last 9 confrontations with Nantes in L1 (3 draws, 6 defeats). It is now 10 for the players of Christophe Pelissier, who fell again against the Canaries of Wylan Cyprien (0-1, 83rd), in a part they had already hit. With this 6th consecutive defeat in L1, a club record, Lorient slips towards the red zone (16th). Nantes is 13th.
