Marseille stalls, Nice recovers

You can discover the elite and go and win at the Vélodrome stadium, without complex: the Clermontois, novices in L1, won a prestigious success against OM, who, for lack of ideas and speed, missed the opportunity to consolidate its place as dolphin of Paris SG.

It's deserved for the Auvergne club, which scored through Mohamed Bayo (13th), author of his 10th goal in Ligue 1, and Jim Allevinah at the end of the match (84th) by thwarting the Marseillais with his disciplined game, taking valuable points in the maintenance race.

And it's infuriating for Jorge Sampaoli's team, unable to accelerate against the very compact low block.

OM contented themselves with spinning the ball, purring, without managing to accelerate.

And on the rare Marseille attempts, the clear shot from Dimitri Payet (38th) was released by goalkeeper Ouparine Djoco, also vigilant on the heel of Arkadiusz Milik (43rd), the low shot from Valentin Rongier (56th) or the shot at close range from Cengiz Ünder (57th).

The joy of Niçois Amine Gouiri and Khéphren Thuram after their victory over Angers at the Allianz Riviera, February 20, 2022 Valery HACHE AFP

This stagnation of Marseille (46 pts) does the business of Nice (45 pts), which beat Angers after two defeats in a row in L1 and rejected the threat of Strasbourg (42 pts) by three lengths.

The Aiglons won thanks to an opportunistic goal from Justin Kluivert (19th) and Angers, beaten for the fourth time in a row in L1, failed to react.

Christophe Galtier's team catches its breath a little before a tough series of matches: against its pursuer Strasbourg next Saturday, then in the semi-final of the Coupe de France against Versailles (N2) and against Paris SG, leader, at the beginning of March. ..

Strasbourg slowed down, Rennes unleashed

The Strasbourgeois suffered a small setback in Saint-Etienne but they nibbled a point against the Greens who continue to garner in their rescue mission.

The scenario was particularly unbridled: Saint-Etienne led thanks to an indirect free kick converted by Ryad Boudebouz (4th), then Strasbourg reversed the score with its usual offensive force thanks to Habib Diallo (21st) and Lucas Perrin (30th) .

And it was finally Wahbi Khazri who equalized for the Greens (34th).

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

"We are still running the points counter with one more," said Strasbourg coach Julien Stéphan.

For Rennes, the reception of Troyes turned into an attacking festival: Serhou Guirassy scored a nice double (14th, 20th), then Martin Terrier (75th) and Gaëtan Laborde from the penalty spot (86th) kept their team in fifth place (40th). points).

No Guion effect yet in Bordeaux

At the bottom of the standings, the Girondins were hoping for an electric shock with their new coach David Guion, supposed to restore some stability to the worst rearguard in Ligue 1.

But if the scenario was initially favorable to Bordeaux, with a goal from Rémi Oudin (22nd) and the exclusion of Monegasque Aurélien Tchouaméni (34th), the navy and white club was then dominated before conceding the equalizer, in numerical superiority, on a gag goal and against his camp from Marcelo (67th).

"We are still lacking in confidence and when we step back (...), we are not immune", analyzed David Guion, whose team remains stuck in last place (21 pts).

New coach David Guion for his first with Bordeaux against Monaco at Matmut-Atlantique, February 20, 2022 Thibaud MORITZ AFP

No winner either between Reims and Brest (1-1), striker Martin Satriano (34th) having responded to Reims captain Wout Faes (4th).

Brest rookie Youcef Belaïli missed a penalty (53rd) and the Brest club announced that they wanted to "investigate" the "possible racist insults" suffered by the Algerian international during the match.

No jump either for the poorly ranked Lorient, who were beaten 1-0 by Montpellier on a goal from Téji Savanier (56th).

© 2022 AFP