PSG winter champion, OM returns to Lens, what to remember from the 18th day of Ligue 1

Europe 1 with AFP 11:39 p.m., January 11, 2023, modified at 11:42 p.m., January 11, 2023

And the Parc des Princes was able to acclaim Messi… Crowned world champion in mid-December with Argentina at the expense of Kylian Mbappé's France, the seven-time Ballon d'Or was warmly welcomed by the Parisian public for his return to competition Wednesday evening during the 18th day of Ligue 1. And despite a long match to settle, the party was complete since PSG tamed the red lantern on goals from Hugo Ekitike (5th) and Messi (72nd), s offering the satisfaction of taking the lead halfway through the championship. 

The Parisians have 47 points, six more than Lens (41 pts), who can no longer join the capital club on the final day of the first leg this weekend.

What to approach with appetite the shock against Rennes on Sunday, where the team of Christophe Galtier should be able to recover Mbappé, rested after a few days off.

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Lens stumbles, electroshocks in Strasbourg and Nice

The Mathieu Le Scornet effect!

Just appointed coach of Strasbourg, the former assistant of Julien Stéphan allowed the Alsatians to obtain a deserved draw against Lens (2-2), slowing down the dolphin in his quest for the podium.

Annoying for RC Lens, which remained in L1 on a prestigious victory against PSG (3-1) and missed several match points.

At the Meinau stadium, the goals rained down during the first half hour, with Alexis Claude-Maurice (11th) and Loïs Openda (33rd) for Lens and Sanjin Prcic (13th) and Kevin Gameiro (16th) for Strasbourg.

Transfigured, the Alsatians finally showed a combative face after a nightmarish start to the season punctuated by a single victory.

The electroshock also worked for Nice and its new coach Didier Digard, successor to Lucien Favre: the Aiglons crushed Montpellier 6-1 with in particular doubles from Nicolas Pépé and Ross Barkley!

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Rennes sees red, Marseille escapes

Beaten 2-1 on the lawn of Clermont, Rennes can blame themselves, because the team of Bruno Genesio held the 1-1 for a long time, Arnaud Kalimuendo (74th) having answered Grejohn Kyei (31st), before falling to nine against eleven on a goal after additional time signed Johan Gastien (90th + 5).

The lack of composure of the Bretons sealed the end of the match: red cards for Benjamin Bourigeaud (77th) and Warmed Omari (83rd), two notable absentees on Sunday to receive PSG, "I am very upset by the scenario" , summarized Genesio.

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Marseille takes advantage

This defeat benefits Marseille, which consolidates its third place (39 pts): the Olympians, for the debut of their Ukrainian rookie Ruslan Malinovskyi, won in Troyes thanks to Chancel Mbemba (10th) and Jordan Veretout (46th).

Their fifth victory in a row, in all competitions, obtained under the eyes of Philippe Diallo, new interim boss of the French Football Federation after the withdrawal of the controversial president Noël Le Graët. Behind Rennes (4th, 34 pts) , Monaco came back up (5th, 34 pts) by snatching a 2-2 draw at Lorient (6th, 32 pts) on a saving goal from Wissam Ben Yedder, captain subscribed to the bench (90th + 3).

Finally, Lille (7th, 31 pts) is three points behind Rennais despite its draw against Brest (0-0), which treated the debut in Ligue 1 of its new coach Eric Roy.

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Lyon does not accelerate, Toulouse curries Auxerre

OL could not do better than a goalless draw (0-0) against FC Nantes (14th) and stagnated in the soft underbelly (8th, 25 pts), ten days after their home defeat against Clermont ( 1-0).

"Regularity, we don't have it yet," complained Lyon coach Laurent Blanc.

For its part, Toulouse punished Auxerre (5-0), which sinks into the red zone (18th).

This is the fourth defeat in a row in L1 for Auxerre, which is not very reassuring before challenging Lens on Saturday.

The TFC is 12th, just behind Reims (11th, 24 pts), which beat Ajaccio 1-0 thanks to Marshall Munetsi (3rd).