Nice unpins Clermont, Auxerre returns Montpellier, Toulouse upset by Lorient
Nice loses its nerves in Clermont (0-1)
Lucien Favre had pointed out the gradual erosion of his team in the last two games, which had cost two points against Strasbourg (1-1) and a frustrating defeat at Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the first leg of the Europa League Conference ( 0-1). This Sunday, OGC Nice did not wait for the return of the locker room to show its shortcomings of the moment (0-1 defeat). Clermont deceived the defense of Kasper Schmeichel from the 6th minute: following a poorly cleared ball, Saif-Eddine Khaoui found himself in the right place and scored with an effective cross shot.
Galvanized by this opening of the early score, the men of Pascal Gastien multiplied the races forward – especially by the intervention of Jim Allevinah -, one of which resulted in a big opportunity for Cham (20th) .
The Niçois had already found themselves in the position of the hunter at the start of the season in Toulouse and they had snatched the point from the draw thanks to the winning entry of Aaron Ramsey. This time, their run behind the score ended much less happily. Mario Lemina and Jean-Clair Todibo were sent off – the first for an uncontrolled tackle from behind and the second for a gesture of humor – and the OGCN remain blocked at two points. Not ideal before playing his European future Thursday against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Auxerre launches its season in Montpellier (2-1)
Benoît Costil’s bad series continued, for at least one meeting, this Sunday in Montpellier. The Auxerre goalkeeper conceded a but for his 29th consecutive match in Ligue 1. But no one will blame him in Burgundy. The French international can’t do much about the goal and he made decisive saves at the end of the match – he notably repelled attempts by Savanier (79th) and Makouana (83rd) – which allowed the promoted to snatch his first victory of the season (2-1).
Mamadou Sakho lived an asymmetrical afternoon to that of Benoît Costil. He who had not scored since November 2017, with Crystal Palace in the Premier League, flew into the air to open the scoring with a header (39th). He then provoked, despite himself, the expulsion of M’Baye Niang seven minutes after his entry into play (52nd), while his team was preparing to play the whole second period at ten after the red received by Khalil Fayad (46th).
Sounded on the action with Niang, the former Parisian missed his end of the match. He was powerless on the equalizer from Nuno Da Costa (70th) before causing the penalty converted by Mathias Autret two minutes later. The two teams finished at nine in an electric end to the match, Da Costa and Savanier having received a direct red, but it was Auxerre who won their duel.
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