Lyon refuse to give up on the Champions League
‘Pourquoi Ils Se Detestent’ (Why do they hate each other?) read the headline of France Football magazine this week. Both Marseille and Lyon gave it their all once again, but Lyon closed the gap between the sides to two points with a 3-2 victory.
Dimitri Payet’s free-kick was headed by Adil Rami to his centre-back partner Rolando, who side-footed the ball through goalkeeper Anthony Lopes’ legs to put the home side ahead. Marseille’s shot-stopper Steve Mandanda then produced a wonderful save to push Maxwel Cornet’s effort on to the post.
The Lyon attacker then had a huge slice of luck when his mishit took a deflection off the shoulder of Rami and past Mandanda. Houssem Aouar was much more clinical when he placed it in the bottom corner to give Bruno Genesio’s side the advantage.
Kostas Mitroglou headed an equaliser for Marseille and that looked to have maintained their margin in the table. However, substitute Memphis Depay had other ideas with yet another vital goal for the inconsistent former Manchester United winger.
Nice unlucky not to get more against PSG
Paris Saint-Germain had to come from behind to make it nine consecutive league wins. Nice will certainly feel aggrieved that they didn’t get more out of the game, as they lost 2-1 at home to the champions-elect.
Mario Balotelli and Presnal Kimpembe had an on-going battle, which started when the Italian’s header against the post was pulled back for a supposed push on the defender. Edinson Cavani was involved in the action, as he should have had a penalty when his legs were swept from underneath him and he hit the opposite woodwork at the second attempt after Walter Benitez was unable to hold his initial shot.
Nice took the lead when an excellent through-ball from Alassane Plea found Allan Saint-Maximin for the young winger’s first goal since the start of December. The lead lasted only four minutes with Angel Di Maria nutmegging Dante before finishing with the outside of his boot.
Balotelli headed against the crossbar and then Unai Emery opted for the same substitution which attracted so much criticism against Real Madrid when Thomas Meunier replaced Cavani. This time it worked a treat, as the now right-winger Dani Alves headed in the winner with just eight minutes left.
Monaco not 100% but still win
Monaco were relieved to get away with a 2-1 win over Lille. Lebo Mothiba put the relegation-threatened team ahead, but Rony Lopes scored for the fifth consecutive match just before half-time.
Stevan Jovetic got the winner on the hour mark, in an underwhelming display from the champions. “We have reason to grumble because we gave goals away from positional errors and sometimes from over-confidence,” confessed Lille manager Christophe Galtier.
“It was not a great performance from Monaco. I think we misplaced more passes in this game than in any other,” admitted Leonardo Jardim.
Said rescues a point for Dijon
Wesley Said grabbed a last minute equaliser to give Dijon a 2-2 draw at Montpellier. It was the 22-year olds fourth goal in his last three games after he also opened the scoring in the 26th minute.
Two goals in seven minutes in the second half from Ellyes Skhiri and Giovanni Sio put Montpellier in control until the late strike from Said. “We are advancing gently towards survival,” said Dijon coach Olivier Dall'Oglio.
“We need to win five or six more if we want to hold onto fifth or sixth place. Given that we were safe before this game, we could have played in a much more liberated manner,” added Montpellier boss Michel Der Zakarian.
Angers continue their good home form
Angers bounced back from their midweek defeat to PSG to beat Caen 3-0. They have now won five out of their last seven Ligue One matches at the Stade Raymond Kopa, with back-to-back games on home turf against Strasbourg and Nice to come after the international break.
Flavien Tait and Karl Toko Ekambi set each other up for a goal apiece in the first half and then former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Prince Oniangue scored his first for the club. Angers have lost only one of their last five games and are now seven points clear of the drop zone.
“We have not reached our objective, but we are a step closer,” said Angers coach Stephane Moulin. “We have built up a little gap to our direct rivals and we have kept up confidence in the squad.”
Honourable mentions
Rennes beat Bordeaux 2-0 at the Matmut Atlantique to take their unbeaten run to six matches. Sabri Lamouchi’s men have been good on the road all season, as they have failed to score only once. They have lost only twice in their last nine away games.
