Paris (AFP)

Frustrating evening for Aymeric Laporte, beaten with Manchester City in Southampton (1-0), and for Franck Ribéry, released injured with Fiorentina. But other Blues are more smiling this Sunday: the French of Real Madrid, who may have approached the La Liga title.

- Laporte between two waters -

Inevitably disappointed by the defeat of his team at Southampton (1-0), after a defensive error in which he is not involved, Laporte tried in vain to help his team to equalize: recovery stopped in the 50th minute, strikes not on target at the end of the match (84th).

But the central defender has at least the satisfaction of finally chaining matches with Manchester City. Holder four times and entered the game against Burnley in the league since the resumption of football in England, and with 90 minutes played in the Cup against Newcastle, the stopper seems to have left behind his knee injury suffered at the start of the season.

Solid in duels, precise in his intervention and his placement, Laporte finally seems 100% again. A return that does not arrive too late for City which, in addition to 5 league matches, still has the FA and especially the Champions League - the only trophy it lacks - as objectives for the end of the season.

- Ribéry goes out on injury in Parma -

Appeared very fit in recent days with Fiorentina, Franck Ribéry came to a halt on Sunday by being replaced at the hour of play on the lawn of Parma.

The former Munich resident, victim of a delayed tackle, complained of the right ankle as he fell, limping out of the field. This did not prevent the "Fio" from winning 2-1 against the Parmesans.

- The Real Blues are close to the title -

Four games from the end, Zinedine Zidane and his French players seem close to offering Real Madrid the 34th title of champion in the rich history of club Merengue.

Sunday in Bilbao, the Madrid won 1-0 on the lawn of the Athletic, with Karim Benzema in holder well muzzled by the opposing defense, and Ferland Mendy replacing unused. Raphaël Varane, touched in the neck Thursday against Getafe (1-0), was not on the scoresheet, "as a precaution" according to Zidane.

This success allowed Real to provisionally take seven lengths ahead of Barcelona, ​​opposed to Villarreal in the evening. One step closer to a first title of champion for Real since 2017?

"I have a lot of pride and joy for the players, because it's seven wins in seven games, it's not trivial. We are really solid," said Zidane.

stt-hap-pve-jed / bde

© 2020 AFP