Lens (AFP)

Montpellier recorded a precious success on the lawn of Lens (3-2) which allows it to catch up with the leading peloton, Saturday after a very pleasant meeting of the 14th day of Ligue 1.

A week after their defeat at La Mosson against Paris SG (1-3), the Hérault residents resumed their march forward on Bollaert's lawn and confirmed their ambitions in the fight for European places.

The MHSC won thanks to goals from Stephy Mavididi (16th), Pedro Mendes (25th) and Gaëtan Laborde (69th), while the RCL had managed to recover temporarily thanks to a goal from Jonas Omlin against his camp (36th). ) and a penalty from Gaël Kakuta (50th).

With this fourth away victory in a row, Michel Der Zakarian's players move up to fifth place with 26 points, one and two lengths behind Marseille and Paris, the first two, respectively.

The Artésiens, who remained on a nice success in Rennes, keep their eighth place with 21 units on the clock after missing a great opportunity to get closer to the podium.

After a balanced start to the match, the first opportunity was in favor of Lens: found in the box by Issiaga Sylla, Florian Sotoca did not support his volley enough, which was easily captured by Omlin (12th).

Montpellier was quick to respond and showed efficiency by opening the scoring: after a raise countered by Loïc Badé, Andy Delort delivered a subtle cross from the outside of the foot for Mavididi, who scored with a header (0-1, 16th).

And while the Lensois were trying to react, the Montpellier residents hit the nail on the head: on a free kick from Téji Savanier, Jean-Louis Leca missed his release with his fists and the ball bounced off Mendes' knee, quite happy to overtake the bet (0-2, 26th).

- Omlin unhappy then decisive -

Disoriented, the Blood and Gold, who were exceptionally evolving in black and green in honor of Saint Barbara, patron saint of miners, then enjoyed a lot of success: served in front of the surface, Fofana unleashed a powerful strike that was 'crush on the right post, before bouncing off the back of Hérault goalkeeper Omlin (1-2, 36').

Reinvigorated, the RCL pushed to equalize and did not go far from doing so just before the break on a strike from Badé, mounted at the outposts (45th).

Finally, the Artésiens succeeded shortly after the break on a penalty obtained by Fofana and transformed by Kakuta (2-2, 50 ').

Arnaud Kalimuendo then obtained two chances, a recovery that flirted with the skylight (53rd) and a face to face where he preferred to serve Sotoca rather than hit (56th).

The MHSC ended up waking up and Laborde put Leca to work on a stung head (63rd).

The second attempt was the right one for the Occitan striker, who gave the advantage to the Hérault people by taking again, still of the head, a corner of Florent Mollet (2-3, 69th).

Despite two last opportunities from Kakuta, who did not frame his recovery (80th), and Igniatus Ganago, whose half-volley was masterfully repelled by a decisive Omlin (86th), Montpellier did not crack and managed to retain its advantage.

© 2020 AFP