At home, LOSC toured Troyes with a rejuvenated and efficient workforce, like Bayo, holder for the first time since August and author of two goals (16th, 47th), like his attacking partner Jonathan David (45th +3, 88e).

This first success of the year 2022 in the league takes Lille to sixth place before the last matches on Sunday.

"I'm happy because we had changed a lot of players but the team was able to produce the same game and that's very important," said coach Paulo Fonseca, with a special mention for Leni Yoro, central defender of 17 years.

However, Les Dogues' performance was clouded by the injury of Adam Ounas.

The Algerian right winger, released on a stretcher and then appeared on crutches, "will not play again for a long time", according to his coach.

On the positive side, his replacement Edon Zhegrova distinguished himself by a good activity, with a strike on the post (39th) and a big strike at the origin of the goal of Alan Virginius (75th, 4-1).

Nightmare in Montpellier

In Montpellier, the weather turned stormy with the hostility of the supporters against their players, four days after the 6-1 rout in Nice.

Ultras started the game with a strike of encouragement and insulting banners, before throwing smoke bombs on the lawn, forcing the referee to interrupt the game for a quarter of an hour.

Angry Montpellier supporters light smoke bombs during the match against Nantes on January 15, 2023 © Pascal GUYOT / AFP

In this context, the Héraultais seemed to stammer their football, like Mamadou Sakho, guilty of a big defensive failure on the 2-0 (81st).

They ended the match nine against eleven after the expulsions of Wahbi Khazri (dangerous game) and Elye Wahi (2nd yellow for simulation).

The third consecutive defeat leaves MHSC in 15th place, just two points from the red zone.

The situation is even worse for Angers, dead last with eight small points on the clock after 19 championship days.

The SCO, unable to win a single point since September, chained against Clermont (2-1) an eleventh defeat in a row in L1.

His opponent from Auvergne, on the other hand, sees life in pink with a fine eighth place halfway through.

Pascal Gastien's team are three points ahead of their closest pursuers Lyon, Nice and Reims.

The last two named drew 0-0 on Sunday in Champagne.

Toulouse and Brest (1-1) also shared the points.

© 2023 AFP