New coaches and battle for the top 5, what to expect from the 18th day of Ligue 1?

Europe 1 with AFP 6:13 p.m., January 10, 2023

The 18th day of Ligue 1, Wednesday, offers a duel between Lorient and Monaco, ambitious eager to get closer to the podium, and an opportunity to revive for Nice and Strasbourg, two clubs shaken by the layoff of their coaches.

Matches to live in full and live in

from 8 p.m.

The six leading teams had all emerged victorious from the previous day, with the exception of leader Paris Saint-Germain, dominated by his runner-up Lens.

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The clash: Lorient-Monaco

In this fierce race for the podium, where the slightest missed point can therefore be expensive, the trip of the Monegasques (5th, 33 points) to the Lorientais (6th, 31 pts) is crucial for both teams.

Since the post-World Cup resumption, the Principality's club has had a solid record in the league, keeping Rennes (4th, 34 pts) and Marseille (3rd, 36 pts) within range.

But he got lost in the Coupe de France on Saturday, with an elimination in the 32nd final on penalties against Rodez, one of the bad students in Ligue 2.

For its part, Stade Rennes travel to Clermont, ninth in the standings, while OM travel to Troyes, undefeated in the last two league matches.

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The player: Zaire-Emery

"Titi" but strong!

Warren Zaire-Emery, a pure product of Parisian training, took a new step in his professional career on Friday by becoming, at 16 years and almost ten months, the youngest holder in the history of PSG.

Happy to have been able to play an entire game, the very precocious midfielder said he was determined to "keep working" because "there will probably be other opportunities".

From Wednesday against Angers?

Against Châteauroux (National) on Friday in the Coupe de France, he in any case produced a performance "of a good level", according to his coach Christophe Galtier who, faced with numerous absences, had lined up a strongly reworked and rejuvenated team.

"He's a baby, he's very young," striker Hugo Ekitike described after the 3-1 win.

"This player is fascinating: he is young, mature for his age. It's good, he must continue like this, he must remain serious and in his work".

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The number: 9

Nine coaches (out of 20 teams) have been sacked by their club since the start of the 2022-2023 season, a record-like pace after only 17 league matches played.

The latest victims both fell on Monday, in the breath of an elimination in the Coupe de France: Julien Stéphan in Strasbourg and Lucien Favre in Nice.

Two interims will try to create a more virtuous dynamic from Wednesday: Mathieu Le Scornet will lead the Alsatians, penultimate in L1, against the second Lens;

Didier Digard will be on the Aiglons bench for the reception of Montpellier by Romain Pitau, successor to Olivier Dall'Oglio since October.

Here is the program of the 18th day of Ligue 1:

7 p.m

.: Auxerre - Toulouse, Clermont - Rennes, Nantes - Lyon, AC Ajaccio - Reims, Brest - Lille

9 p.m

.: Lorient - Monaco, Troyes - Marseille, Nice - Montpellier, Paris Saint-Germain - Angers, Strasbourg - Lens