Angers (AFP)

Nantes revived by crushing 4 to 1 of the Angevins now down from their clouds, in a derby of the Loire at the frenzied pace on Sunday at the Raymond Kopa stadium during the 6th day of Ligue 1.

Only 17th in the standings, poorly paid for their efforts in their last matches against Lyon (0-1) then Nice (0-2), the Nantes people raised their heads and climbed to 10th place (7 points) before a match within their reach Wednesday against Brest.

The Angevins, runners-up of PSG for a few weeks, remain temporarily on the podium (3rd, 11 points) but cash their first defeat of the season and confirm the drop in speed recorded last week in Brest (1-1), while they are preparing to receive Marseille on Wednesday.

In February, Nantes at the bottom of the hole had regained hope by winning 3-1 in Angers, for the first match of Antoine Kombouaré on the bench, thanks mainly to 2 goals scored in 7 minutes.

This time, the Nantes attackers, silent since August 15, took only 5 minutes: a header from Andrei Girotto on a corner from Moses Simon (0-1, 3rd) then a penalty obtained by Randal Kolo Muani facing an Angers defense in panic and transformed by Ludovic Blas (0-2, 5th).

"We are at home," could chant the Yellow and Green supporters in the visitors' parking lot.

A blow for the Angevins, who had managed in recent years to get rid of their old complex vis-à-vis their neighbor.

And who had conceded only two goals since the start of the championship.

Very quickly, Ismaël Traoré put his people back in the direction of travel by reducing the score by a header from a corner (1-2, 9th).

But while the Angevins and their supporters were pushing to come back, an Alban reflex parade on a header from Angelo Fulgini avoided the equalizer (21st).

In the process, Randal Kolo Muani, served at the penalty spot by the inevitable Simon - decisive passer on 5 of the 7 Nantes goals this season -, in turn showed a lot of coolness to erase two defenders and slide the ball along the post (1-3, 23rd).

The Angevin goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni bows for the third time against Nantes, this time on a goal from Randal Kolo Muani to Raymond-Kopa, September 19, 2021 JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER AFP

If the intensity then fell slightly, the Nantes people never released the pressure, while the Angevins, often too static, lacked accuracy and success, like a failed recovery from Mohamed-Ali Cho on a ball repelled by Lafont (38th) or a strike from Fulgini not rolled up enough to find the frame (49th).

And they were surprised on a counter, where Blas had only to cut at the far post a millimeter center from Kolo Muani (1-4, 79th).

© 2021 AFP