Once again, the Canaries waited until they were 2-0 down to react. But weighed down by a ball from Alban Lafont against Jérémy Le Douaron (18th) and pushed by a header from Mathias Pereira Lage (35th), not helped by the still confused tactical choices of Antoine Kombouaré, they did not manage to raise their heads.

However, there is urgency: after having counted up to ten points ahead of the red zone, the Nantes are now 17th equal points with Strasbourg (32 pts), which they will receive Sunday before going to find Toulouse, their executioners of the Stade de France (5-1), next week.

And now that the beautiful course in the Coupe de France has taken on the air of trompe-l'oeil, it is difficult to know where the Canaries, who remain on ten matches without a win in L1, will be able to find the resources to bounce back.

Kombouaré had taken the lead on Monday, ensuring that three wins would be enough in the last six games. But his speech passes less and less, with his players as well as his president Waldemar Kita. And nothing says that the Beaujoire will remain understanding on Sunday.

Air for Brest

The Brest on the other hand give themselves air and confirm their current good momentum, going up to 14th place (35 pts). With the bonus of a victory over their bête noire, since they had not beaten Nantes since 2010 and had suffered a tough 4-1 in October at the Beaujoire.

On Wednesday night, the Canaries gave the illusion for a few minutes, but the pace quickly settled and after less than a quarter of an hour, the Brest waves began to break.

And it didn't take much to make Lafont give in, yet so often impassable. Advancing to the edge of his area for a clearance without pressure, the goalkeeper missed his gesture, stumbled and let Le Douaron, in ambush, adjust in the empty goal (1-0, 18th).

And facing the Canaries suddenly overwhelmed, unable to be on the field, the Brest doubled the bet thanks to a cross header from Pereira Lage, not worried in the box, on a center of Kenny Lala (2-0, 35th).

Brest celebrates one of his two goals against Nantes in Ligue 1, at the Stade Francis-Le Ble in Brest, on May 3, 2023 © DAMIEN MEYER / AFP

Already three times in their four previous matches, the Canaries had been led 2-0 in the first half: they had rebelled in time to snatch the draw 2-2 against Monaco, too late in Auxerre (2-1) and not at all against Toulouse (5-1).

In Brest, the entry of Ludovic Blas, captain in distress Saturday left on the bench at kick-off, put them back in the direction of the march. The attacking midfielder even quickly put Marco Bizot to work on two strikes (52nd and 54th).

Then the Brest goalkeeper had to work against Mostafa Mohamed (58th, 78th) and Florent Mollet in extra time. But this was not enough, and the Yellow and Green defense still had to work to avoid seeing the Brestois, pushed by a full and enthusiastic stadium, further weigh down the bill.

© 2023 AFP