Hampered by their defeat in Nice last week after a good series, the Nantes people got back in working order thanks to goals from Andrei Girotto, Randal Kolo Muani, Osman Bukari and Willem Geubbels, but also to the parades of Alban Lafont , the captain who celebrated his 23rd birthday (8th, 32 points).
The Hakes, on the other hand, find themselves in a relegation position (19th, 17 points), despite the return of Fabien Lemoine, who has been absent for three months due to injury, an unexpected goal from Terem Moffi, silent since September, and the confirmation of young Sambou Soumano.
Swept by a cold wind, the Beaujoire stadium sounded almost empty with only 4,200 spectators, but it came to life with each acceleration of Bukari and Randal Kolo Muani.
However, it was on a set piece that the opener came: a free kick from Andrei Girotto at the edge of the area, shot low to the ground and in power, and involuntarily deflected by Moffi in the wall (1-0, 39th).
Well served by Fabio after a good recovery from Nicolas Pallois, Kolo Muani drove the nail home with a magnificent strike under the crossbar (2-0, 53rd).
The Hakes did not give up, like Armand Laurienté, who struggled in the area to manage to strike.
Repelled by Nardi, the ball returned to the feet of Moffi, who was able to end his months of starvation (2-1, 56th).
And while Christophe Pélissier's men pushed to come back to score, Osman Bukari, served by Samuel Moutoussami on a counterattack, gave the Canaries some air thanks to a deflected shot by Moritz Jenz, who had already scored a goal against his camp in Lille (3-1, 69th).
Barely entered the game, Sambou Soumano, already a scorer in Lille, revived the Merlus on his first ball (3-2, 85th), but the suspense remained short-lived since Willem Geubbels, also on his first ball, immediately restored the Nantes lead (4-2, 86th).
© 2022 AFP