RC Strasbourg Alsace 1-1 FC Lorient

THE GAME

Lorient made the trip across France to Strasbourg in sixth, having suffered a recent wobble, but trailing 13 places and 17 points over their struggling hosts. Le took the lead after the first attack of the match. Enzo Le Fée’s corner is deflected at the far post by Dimitri Liénard, and Moffi is about to convert his 10th goal of the campaign (5th). Julien Ponceau thought he had to take a penalty in stride, but Alexander Djiku’s fault was outside the area (15th). Gédéon Kalulu and Moffi then team up to give Ponceau a second chance, but Ronaël Pierre-Gabriel intervenes at the last minute (34′). Almost all the traffic in the first half was in the direction of Lorient, and Moffi should have scored 2-0 by stealing the ball from Alexander Djiku, but he shot wide and the goal at his mercy (39th ).

Strasbourg strikes back

What Julien Stéphan said at his side during the intermission must have struck a chord, and Racing tumbles in the second half, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde forcing Vito Mannone to a fine save five minutes after the restart (50th). Former Arsenal player Mannone played in place of the injured Yvonn Mvogo and what started out as a quiet afternoon soon turned into the complete opposite with Kévin Gameiro trying his luck by deflecting another shot from Bellegarde towards the goal (51st). Lorient still looked capable of scoring and Dango Ouattara missed Matz Sels’ post (63′), but Strasbourg earned their equalizer when they got it, Diallo converting on a backhand from Bellegarde (87′).

THE PLAYER: Jean-Ricner Bellegarde

Bellegarde played like a possessed man in the second half, helping Strasbourg finish the game with 20 shots to their opponents’ six. Bellegarde has normally been deployed as a defensive midfielder this season but Stephan’s change to half-time formation with the former RC Lens playing more like a No10 has reaped the rewards.

THE STAT: 5

Lorient are now winless in their last five Uber Eats Ligue 1 matches, with their early promise giving way to frustration relatively quickly in recent weeks. Hakes hasn’t won since early October, when LOSC beat LOSC 2-1 at the Stade du Moustoir.

LOSC 1-0 Angers SCO

Elsewhere, LOSC, champions in 2021, beat Angers SCO 1-0 at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

With Ismaily injured, Bafodé Diakité moved to left-back with Tim Weah asked for a position on the right, and Angers appeared to have capitalized on Lille’s patchwork defense when Amine Salama pushed Pierrick Capelle’s cross, but his effort was sent off for offside (33′).

A header from Tiago Djalo from a corner by Rémy Cabella (36th) finally made the difference between the teams, and the Mastiffs closed the points despite the last 15 minutes played at 10 due to the expulsion of Carlos Baleba (76th).

Stade Brestois 29 2-1 ESTA Troyes

Stade Brestois came out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over ESTAC Troyes at Stade Francis-Le Blé, meanwhile.

Romain Del Castillo gave the home side the advantage from the penalty spot five minutes after the restart (55th), but an own goal from Brendan Chardonnet put Troyes level five minutes later (60th).

Islam Slimani missed a late penalty but referee Ruddy Buquet ordered a replay and Steve Mounié intervened to give the three points to Brest (77th). Troyes also ended the match at 10 after the expulsion of Mama Baldé (80′).

FC Nantes 2-2 AC Ajaccio

FC Nantes left him late to recover part of the spoils against AC Ajaccio at the Stade de la Beaujoire.

Youcef Belaïli gave the Corsicans the advantage from the penalty spot (57th) before assisting Romain Hamouma on the goal which made it 2-0 for the visitors, but Nantes responded with Ludovic Blas (70th) and Moses Simon (89th), the crossfire from the latter coming one minute from time.

Montpellier Herault SC 1-1 Stade de Reims

There was even drama later at the Stade de la Mosson with Sacha Delaye scoring to make it 1-1 for Montpellier Hérault SC against Stade de Reims in injury time just two minutes after coming on.

Marshal Munetsi had only given the advantage to Reis three minutes from the end when he took over the cross from Mitchell van Bergen (87 ‘) but the joy of the visitors was short-lived, Delaye taking advantage of a parade Yehvann Diouf (90’+1) for one part. points.