Paris (AFP)

Stade Rennes keep the podium in their sights after overthrowing Brest 2-1 on Sunday in a 20th day of Ligue 1 where Saint-Etienne, decimated by the Covid-19 and greatly rejuvenated, lost 1-0 in Strasbourg.

Beaten on Saturday by the poorly classified Nîmes, Marseille (6th) saw Rennes, a competitor for European places, do what is necessary in the Breton shock to return to Monaco (4th) and three points from the podium.

OM, four units behind, will nevertheless have the opportunity to make up part of their delay on Wednesday for the first of their two late matches, against Lens which neutralized Nantes 1-1 on Sunday afternoon at La Beaujoire.

The Canaries of Imran Louza (penalty in the 36th) have long thought to offer Raymond Domenech a first victory since his arrival at the end of December.

But they had to be content with a third draw in a row after the equalizer of Gaël Kakuta (81st), who had missed a penalty in the first period.

Unbeaten in 2021, Nantes nonetheless slowly distances itself from the red zone and approaches Saint-Etienne, 16th with a small point more.

- Bordeaux flows Nice -

At the Meinau, the Greens lived a funny Sunday, without their coach Claude Puel, his staff and a dozen usual players, all affected by Covid-19 and forced to stay at home.

The technical manager of the training center, Laurent Huard, led a team supplemented by reservists and young people, with seven holders out of eleven trained at the club, and no keeper in the event of injury to the holder Jessy Moulin!

Saint-Etienne almost surprised Strasbourg from the start with a penalty obtained by the young Aïmen Moueffek, 19, but the experienced Ryad Boudebouz missed him (10th).

Ludovic Ajorque did not miss his chance (29th) and allowed the Alsatians to pocket a third victory in a row, with a 13th place as a reward.

Strasbourg is only three points behind Brest (11th) which, despite a great start at home, lost in the 100% Breton duel against Rennes.

"We know the value of these three points here, where a lot of teams have broken their teeth", savored coach Julien Stéphan, pointing "a 7th game without defeat and a first victory in 2021".

Despite the early opening score from Brest, after four minutes, Rennes restored the shot in stride by Benjamin Bourigeaud (7th) before making the difference on a penalty converted in the second half by Clément Grenier, the man in the form of moment.

In the other meeting of the afternoon, Bordeaux forgot the absence of its N.10 Hatem Ben Arfa, forfeit, to sink 3-0 a team of Nice in full crisis, after a fifth game without a win since mid -December.

© 2021 AFP