Monaco in danger of missing out on the Champions League
Guingamp stunned Monaco with a 3-1 victory, although the away side did play 70 minutes with 10 men. Centre-back Jemerson’s save on the line saw him given a straight red and Jimmy Briand sent goalkeeper Seydou Sy the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Etienne Didot hit a sublime volley to double their lead from a Clement Grenier corner and then Marcus Thuram added a third just after half-time. Almamy Toure pulled one back for Monaco, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a second consecutive defeat.
There’s now just one point separating Monaco, Marseille and Lyon with only two of them able to qualify for the Champions League through the league. Guingamp were just six points above the relegation zone four games ago, but now have an eye on a Europa League spot.
Marseille hitting form at the right time
With the Europa League semi-final coming up against Salzburg on Thursday, Marseille warmed up in style with a 5-1 thrashing of Lille. Florian Thauvin’s clever header broke the deadlock and he added his second from the penalty spot on the half-hour mark.
A brace in three minutes from Kostas Mitroglou put Marseille 4-0 up at the break and improved the Greek’s chances of starting in midweek. Yassine Benzia was given far too much space to get a consolation for Lille, but Lucas Ocampos ensured Marseille ended on a positive note when he drilled past Kouakou Koffi at his near post.
“We think football is only when we have the ball at our feet, playing at our rhythm and in our way,” criticised Lille coach Christophe Galtier. “With this team spirit, this team is capable of being stronger than anyone,” enthused Rudi Garcia.
Lyon look like themselves again
Nabil Fekir started for Lyon for the first time in two months and Bruno Genesio’s men were back to their creative best. They beat Dijon 5-2 at the Stade Gaston Gerard, with the Tunisian attacker looking like he hadn’t been away.
Lyon got off to the perfect start when Memphis Depay turned in a cross from Rafael, although the Brazilian full-back appeared to have handled the ball in the build-up. Naim Slitti equalised from 30 yards for Dijon, as the Lyon defenders backed off against the counter-attack.
An unfortunate rebound off the knee of Dijon’s Valentin Rosier restored Lyon’s advantage and then an excellent solo run from Fekir made it 3-1 four minutes later. Slitti got his second of the game as his shot into the ground looped over Anthony Lopes, but two good finishes from Bertrand Traore and Maxwel Cornet secured the points.
The Champions go through the motions
It was nothing like the emphatic victory last weekend, but with the league title now sewn up for Paris Saint-Germain they don’t need to have the same intensity. Bordeaux had twice the amount of shots than their visitors, with goalkeeper Alphonse Areola having an unusually busy evening.
Edinson Cavani did have a goal ruled out for offside off a scooped pass from Javier Pastore just after half-time. Giovani Lo Celso scored the only goal of the game as he blasted in from the edge of the area following Bordeaux’s failed clearance off a corner with only 14 minutes remaining.
Spoils shared in the Derby Breton
Rennes remain two points ahead of local rivals Nantes after they equalised late on through an own goal from Nicolas Pallois. Claudio Ranieri’s side had been fairly comfortable following Adrien Thomasson’s second goal in three games, but Emiliano Sala’s red card immediately after the restart changed the course of the encounter.
The Les Canaris’ top scorer had been sent off for a second bookable offence. Nantes are now without a win in their last nine matches, whilst Rennes were celebrating their 75th anniversary.
“To sum up the match, I don't think it's robbery that we're leaving with a point. It's not a derby that will live long in the memory,” admitted Rennes boss Sabri Lamouchi.
Honorable mentions
Toulouse 2-0 win over Angers means that they are now four points away from the relegation zone. It ended a run of eight games without a victory for Mickael Debeve’s men, whilst they play fellow strugglers Caen on Wednesday in an extra game over the teams below them.
