Nantes (AFP)

With a game less attractive than in September but more successful, Antoine Kombouaré's men, who came very close to relegation last year, grab a provisional 5th place (17 points).

For Clermont, the promoted author of a great start and a prestigious success last week against the reigning French champions, it is a new setback (14th, 13 points) before the delicate reception of Marseille next week.

After a frustrating first period, with more bad gestures and players on the ground than good play, the match was really played in the second half played at 10 against 10.

bird names

The match started at a good pace, with an off-target volley from Rori Pereira de Sa (9th), quickly imitated by Mohamed Bayo on the other side (11th).

But what followed was more choppy, marked by a series of faults, simulations and tensions.

The referee issued a first red card in the 30th minute for Johan Gastien, guilty of a gesture of annoyance against the pressing of Andrei Girotto.

And while the names of birds flew between the two coaches, Sébastien Corchia was in turn excluded, after intervention of the VAR, for a dangerous late tackle against Vital Nsimba, the hero of the victory against Lille last week (41st).

In the meantime, Nantes opened the scoring with a free kick shot by Corchia and nicely extended from the right by Girotto (1-0, 38 ').

Clermontois Johan Gastien is excluded for a foul on Andrei Girotto during the Nantes victory at La Beaujoire, October 23, 2021 Sebastien SALOM-GOMIS AFP

With finally calmed minds and open spaces, the game came to life.

Served in the axis by Elbasa Rashani, Bayo equalized with a superb strike under the bar early in the second half (1-1, 49th).

But Nantes regained the advantage in a beautiful movement: ideally launched by Ludovic Blas, Randal Kolo Muani, altruistic, chose to withdraw for the attacking midfielder, who shot Arthur Desmas with a strike along the post (2 -1, 61st).

In a much more unbridled final, Florent Ogier pushed back a shot from Kolo Muani on his line while Desmas was beaten (75th), but the goalkeeper interposed well against Moses Simon (81st).

© 2021 AFP