Paris (AFP)

To begin his rescue mission with Nantes, coach Antoine Kombouaré won Sunday 3-1 in Angers, the Canaries' first success since November in Ligue 1. General surplace in the race for Europe, like Monaco, saved by Wissam Ben Yedder against Lorient (2-2).

- "WBY" saves Monaco -

ASM, which remained on eight consecutive victories in all competitions, preserved in extremis its invincibility acquired since the beginning of the year: a goal in added time from Ben Yedder, author of a double, avoided the Monegasques a unwelcome disappointment before challenging Paris SG next weekend.

Result: the Monegasques (4th, 49 pts) remain at a distance at the foot of the podium, while they could come back in case of victory on the heels of Lyon (3rd, 52 pts), cooled Saturday by Montpellier (2-1).

It must be said that Monaco ended up behind twice after a double from the untenable Terem Moffi (7th sp, 62nd).

But the Principality's team, second best attack in L1 (behind PSG), found the resources to share the points thanks to its captain Ben Yedder (48 sp, 90th + 3).

On the Lorient side, this draw allows the Merlus (17th, 23 pts) to maintain their good momentum in L1: three wins and two draws over the last five days.

- Rennes and Metz are not moving forward -

In addition to Lyon (3rd), Monaco (4th) and Lens (6th, 37 pts), frustrated on Saturday in Reims (1-1), the teams classified from third to seventh place all left points on the way this weekend in the race for European places.

At home, Rennes (5th, 38 pts) passed through against a team from Saint-Etienne (15th, 29 pts) which confirms its renewal.

Stade Rennes found themselves behind after an unstoppable cross strike from the returning Denis Bouanga (27th), author of his first goal in 2021. Arnaud Nordin weighed down the score against (71st) and Julien Stéphan's team chained a fifth consecutive match without success in all competitions ...

Same frustration for Metz (7th, 36 pts) who lost the Grand Est derby at home against Strasbourg (16th, 26 pts).

Frédéric Antonetti's team had opened the scoring thanks to Thomas Delaine (17th) but a double from Adrien Thomasson (33rd, 84th) gave Racing the victory and precious points in the race to maintain.

- Kombouaré, thunderous beginnings -

Maintenance is the stated objective of Nantes and its new coach Antoine Kombouaré, who took a first step in this direction on Sunday.

Appointed Wednesday, the coach guided the Canaries to their first success since November 8, erasing a black streak of 16 games without a win.

The former Nantes defender (1983-1990), successor to the ephemeral Raymond Domenech, began his rescue mission in the best possible way thanks to Moises Simon (4th), Imran Louza on penalty (7th) and Abdoul Kader Bamba (86th ), while Angers had reduced the mark on a penalty from Thomas Mangani (33rd).

It's already better than Domenech, unable to win the slightest victory in seven days of L1!

Admittedly, the Nantes people trembled, as on this strike from Sofiane Boufal on the transverse (50th), but they held on, winning only their 4th success of the season.

They remain barragists (22 pts) but offer themselves a little air in front of Nîmes (19th, 18 pts), which beat the Dijon red lantern (15 pts) in a crucial duel between poorly classified.

The Burgundians, beaten on goals from Renaud Ripart (76th) and Niclas Eliasson (87th), finished ten after the exclusion of Frédéric Sammaritano, symbol of a team in great difficulty ...

© 2021 AFP