Europe 1 with AFP 00:08, 03 April 2023

The leader PSG has chained a second disappointment in a row in Ligue 1, Sunday against OL (0-1), an empty passage that does not know Monaco, close to the podium, nor Lille now installed in fifth place, European. The last nine days of the championship promise suspense on all levels.

The Parisians are not for nothing: they suffered a fifth defeat in 2023 in the league, the second consecutive after the one against Rennes (0-2) before the international break, already at the Parc des Princes. They are only six points ahead of their pursuers, Lens (2nd, 60 points) and Marseille (3rd, 60 pts). And the calendar promises to be tough before facing Nice and Lens, precisely.

OL, ninth, wasted a penalty by Alexandre Lacazette (39th) before aiming just by Bradley Barcola (56th), who entered the game quickly to replace Amin Sarr, out on injury. The title is therefore far from being won for PSG. And the fight for second place, directly qualifying in the Champions League, also promises to be very contested between Lens, OM and Monaco (4th, 57 pts), winner ric-rac of Strasbourg (4-3) Sunday.

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Late awakening

The club of the principality, led 2-1 at the break, stepped on the accelerator in the second half with goals from young Eliesse Ben Seghir and Edan Diop (18), and French vice-world champion Youssouf Fofana, who was subsequently excluded. Five points behind Monaco, the fifth qualifying place for the play-offs of the Conference Europa League has a new owner: Lille blew Lorient (3-1) on the gong to chip the jump seat in Rennes, beaten Saturday by Lens.

LOSC dominated the Merlus for a long time before being equalized in the last quarter of an hour. More enterprising, the Northerners finally prevailed on a late double of the incoming Edon Zhegrova (89th and 90th+1).

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Reims, fantastic lift

Like the Kosovar winger, Reims' Alexis Flips offered himself an express double (38th, 39th) in Nantes, beaten 3-0 three days before his Coupe de France semi-final against Lyon. After this "slap at home", the Canaries are only four points ahead of the first relegation, Auxerre, but "there is no urgency", tempered the coach Antoine Kombouaré.

On the opposing bench, the situation is much more comfortable for Will Still. The Belgian (30), who arrived in mid-October when Reims were flirting with the red zone, managed to get his team up to seventh place. The Champagne club, beaten by OM before the break, took advantage of the new misstep of Nice, unable to beat Angers (1-1), red lantern rarely threatening. "He lacked a competitive mindset. We must remember that Ligue 1 is complicated, "commented Didier Digard after the fourth consecutive draw of the Aiglons Nice, eighth.

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Stunning Brest

In the fight for maintenance, Brest overthrew Toulouse (3-1) to settle in 15th place, one point ahead of Strasbourg (16th) and Auxerre (17th), the first club in a relegation position. AC Ajaccio, beaten 2-1 in Clermont, experienced great disappointment. In front at the break, reduced to ten in the second half, the Corsicans conceded a double from Grejohn Kyei on penalty (60th and 90th + 3).

"The scenario is cruel," regretted Olivier Pantaloni. "But I have a group that will not give up, it will fight to the end," promised the coach of the ACA, penultimate .