Nice consolidates its third place

With this short but precious victory at the Allianz Riviera, Nice (45 pts) finally consolidated its place on the podium after two defeats in a row in L1, rejecting the threat of Strasbourg (42 pts) by three lengths.

The Aiglons resumed their march forward thanks to an opportunistic goal from Justin Kluivert, who slipped the ball between the legs of Angevin goalkeeper Danijel Petkovic (19th).

That was enough for the happiness of the "Gym", who ran after a second goal to take cover: Képhren Thuram (11th) and Andy Delort (66th) saw their respective goals canceled for offside and Kasper Dolberg multiplied the burning attempts (15th, 35th, 62nd), in vain.

Angers, beaten for the fourth time in a row in L1, failed to react, despite a nice strike from Souleyman Doumbia on the Nice post (45th + 3)...

Without consequence for the team of Christophe Galtier, who catches his breath a little before a tough sequence in L1, starting with his pursuer Strasbourg next Saturday, then his semi-final of the Coupe de France against Versailles (N2) and the reception of the Paris SG at the beginning of March...

The Greens slow down Strasbourg, Rennes picks up

The Strasbourg residents suffered a small setback in Saint-Etienne, against the Greens who remained on three victories in a row in their rescue mission and continue to collect points.

The scenario was particularly unbridled: Julien Stéphan's team conceded an early goal on an indirect free kick at the penalty spot, converted by Ryad Boudebouz who pierced the forest of Strasbourg players massed on their goal line (4th) .

The Stéphanois in Ryad Boudebouz against Strasbourg in Geoffroy-Guichard, February 20, 2022 JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP

Then the Alsatian offensive force, the second L1 attack behind Paris, reversed the score: Habib Diallo equalized with a header after a hazardous exit from goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni (21st), then "papinade" from defender Lucas Perrin (30th) , on loan from Marseille.

And it was finally Wahbi Khazri who equalized closely at the reception of a cross (34th) to preserve Saint-Etienne (22 pts) and ensure the Greens to stay out of the last two places of relegation.

In Rennes, Rennes striker Serhou Guirassy knocked out Troyes with a nice double, with an opportunistic goal after a ball pushed back by the goalkeeper (14th), then a splendid header from a no less splendid volley from Birger Meling (20th ).

The Bretons were certainly scared with a reduction in the score of Iké Ugbo (39th), but Martin Terrier then Gaëtan Laborde on penalty (86th) took their team to safety (75th) and offered Rennes a precious victory for stay in touch in the race for Europe: they are provisionally fifth (40 pts).

Reims and Brest spoil, the MHSC sinks Lorient

In the soft underbelly, no winner between Reims and Brest (1-1) despite a rain of missed opportunities.

Diminished by injuries and further weakened by the exit during the match of their striker Hugo Ekitike, hit in the thigh, Stade de Reims still opened the scoring thanks to their captain Wout Faes with a header (4th).

Montpellier captain Téji Savanier scored the only goal of the match against Lorient at Moustoir, February 20, 2022 LOIC VENANCE AFP

But the Uruguayan Martin Satriano brought the Bretons back up (34th) before the Brest rookie Youcef Belaïli stumbled over the Reims goalkeeper Rajkovic from the penalty spot (53rd), a prelude to a very open end to the match where neither of the two teams managed to win to give himself some air in the standings.

No jump either for Lorient, which was beaten 1-0 by Montpellier on a curling strike from Téji Savanier (56th) and stagnates at the bottom of the table, with only one match won over the last eighteen days...

© 2022 AFP