Ligue One Gameweek 25 Review: Neymar Warms Up For Real Madrid And Monaco Are Finding Answers

Ligue One Gameweek 25 Review: Neymar Warms Up For Real Madrid And Monaco Are Finding Answers
10:43, 12 Feb 2018

Jovetic proves a worthy deputy

Two goals from Stevan Jovetic helped Monaco to a 4-0 victory at the Stade Raymond Kopa. With Keita Balde suspended and Radamel Falcao injured, it was the 28-year-old Montenegro forward who was tasked with leading the line. 

Angers defender Romain Thomas managed to divert a cross from Adama Diakhaby towards his goalkeeper Ludovic Butelle, but unfortunately for him his initial save rebounded off the post back onto his head and into the net. This slice of fortune seemed to galvanise Monaco and they extended their lead on the half-hour mark.

Jovetic dinked the ball over Butelle and then scored his second of the match in the 65th minute. The attacker has struggled to replicate the promise he showed early in his career at Fiorentina, but he might have found a new home in the south of France.

Left-back Andrea Raggi made it four, in an impressive performance from Leonardo Jardim’s men. “There are two ways of seeing things: either we're objective and we acknowledge there was a very clear difference between the sides that we knew before kick-off and that was translated onto the pitch, or we can say that we weren't up to it,” admitted Angers boss Stephane Moulin.

Neymar digs PSG out of a hole

Toulouse goalkeeper Alban Lafont had an outstanding game, as he thwarted Paris Saint-Germain on numerous occasions. PSG weren’t as clinical as usual, but that had a lot to do with the 19-year-old shot-stopper.

Neymar scored the solitary goal after his shot took a deflection off Issa Diop. The Brazilian was the greatest goal threat once again, as he twice hit the upright.

“We had chances to score more goals, but the opposition goalkeeper played really well, and we hit the woodwork three times. But it's good preparations, for the rhythm and the confidence,” said Unai Emery.

Saint-Etienne deny Marseille

Marseille are still unbeaten in 2018, but they dropped below Monaco in the table as they were held 2-2 at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Florian Thauvin’s excellent volley inside four minutes made it look like it was going to be another routine win for Rudi Garcia’s team.

However, Kevin Monnet-Paquet drew them level just five minutes later following a clever piece of skill by Romain Hamouma to round Marseille centre-back Adil Rami. Morgan Sanson restored The Olympians’ advantage on the volley, but Robert Beric arrived from the bench to chest in from close range.

Rennes shock Lyon

Lyon are beginning to slide away from the top three, as they lost for the third successive match. Marcelo’s strange defensive header allowed Rennes’ Wahbi Khazri through one-one-one with Anthony Lopes and the attacker slotted past the Portuguese keeper.

Nabil Fekir should have had a penalty when he was blatantly fouled by Jeremy Gelin. Bruno Genesio’s side had other opportunities with substitute Memphis Depay heading over and Fekir coming close.

Having said that, Rennes were worthy winners with a solid display at the back. James Edward Lea Siliki ensured the three points when he netted in stoppage time at the second attempt.

Lille & Nantes in entertaining draw

When Lille and Nantes met on the opening day of the season, the two sides appeared to be heading in very different directions. Marcelo Bielsa’s team won 3-0 against Claudio Ranieri’s outfit, but it proved to be an anomaly in the two managers’ campaigns.

Bielsa has since departed Lille, with the club in the relegation play-off position before kick-off. Meanwhile, Nantes have spent the majority of the term in the top six and are typically in the hard-working mould of their coach.

It was a more even encounter this time around, with Nantes twice going in front through goals from Emiliano Sala only to be pegged back. Lebo Mothiba equalised at first, whilst Nicolas Pepe earned the away side a 2-2 draw.

Honourable mentions

Bordeaux won for the fourth consecutive match and it was their third win since Gus Poyet took the reins. Goals from Jules Kounde, Lukas Lerager and Francois Kamano gave Bordeaux a 3-0 lead, although they were holding on at the end when John Mendoza and Gael Kakuta scored late for Amiens. Bordeaux have a huge test next against Marseille.

See the full Ligue 1 table here.

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