Result of the week for OGC Nice.
This weekend saw the resurgence of scoring, the return of the GSTGC award, and some serious shenanigans. The result of the week goes to Nice, who absolutely dismantled Lyon 4-1 thanks to a very busy Loic Remy.
The secondary result of the week goes to the H1N1 virus, which managed to shut out both Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday. Although the league had stated on Saturday that the match would go on despite the diagnosis of swine flu for Ludovic Giuly and Mamadou Sako, the appearance of symptoms among 2 PSG staff members and a confirmed diagnosis for Jeremy Clement forced French league president Frederic Thiriez to postpone the match on Sunday a few hours before the start.
Unfortunately, some 100 members of the PSG supporters group Kop de Boulogne did not take too kindly to this news after having traveled down south for the match. The hooligans engaged in several clashes in and around downtown Marseille, although this is not significantly different from the violence that has surrounded this rivalry throughout the years.
Saturday, October 24th:
Bordeaux 3-0 Le Mans – Bordeaux bounced back from their stunning defeat last week by dominating this march, although they didn’t secure the 3 points until the middle of the second half. They got off to an incredibly quick start, as Gouffran hit the post in the 3rd minute only to have the ball bounce into the goal off Le Mans GK Ovono for an OG. Despite the overwhelming majority of the possession, Bordeaux couldn’t come away with any opportunities and Le Mans almost equalized in the 36th minute when Helstad lobbed Bordeaux GK Carrasso only to have his shot hit the crossbar. In the 50th minute Le Tallec had his shot stopped by Carrasso, and the score was 2-0 in the 67th minute when Chamakh headed home a corner from Gourcuff. The final goal came in the 83rd minute after some nice work from Tremoulinas down the flank lead to an easy finish for Bellion.
Boulogne 1-3 Monaco – The club from the principality ran roughshod over new boys Boulogne, taking 20 shots (9 on goal) and holding 62% of the possession. This match also started quickly, as Boulogne GK Kone was forced into an excellent double-save on Park in the 11th minute. The latter was not to be denied, however, turning a shot from Alonso into the goal in the 36th minute. Just 2 minutes later Boulogne were down to 10 men as das Neves received a straight RC for a nasty tackle on Alonso. Despite the man disadvantage, Boulogne equalized in the 66th minute when Blayac sent home a header from close range. He should have had a brace in the 79th minute, but he was stopped by Monaco GK Ruffier. They would rue the miss, as Nene sent home a beautiful free-kick in the 86th minute for the lead (earning the GSTGC award in the process). Nene repeated his feat in the 92nd minute for the final tally.
Grenoble 1-2 Nancy – Grenoble continued their impression of 2007/2008 Derby County, failing yet again to earn even a single point and remaining at the bottom of the table with zero points total. This was in spite of the fact that Nancy only took 3 shots, putting 2 of them on goal. In the 2nd minute Jemmali had his header stopped by Nancy GK Gregorini, who also stopped Boya 2 minutes later. In the 21st minute it was Ljuboja who was denied by Gregorini, as the latter was kept very busy. In the 27th minute a Batlles corner was missed by Gregorini, but Cesar was unable to convert with the goal at his mercy. Nancy took their first shot in the 47th minute when Alo’o Efoulou was stopped by Grenoble GK Le Crom, but the pressure resumed at the other end resulting in a goal from Ljuboja on a counter-attack in the 53rd minute. Disaster struck in the 74th minute when Jemmali, attempting a clearance, headed the ball past his own GK, Le Crom, for an OG. The misery was complete in the 89th minute when Cesar grabbed Dia’s shirt, resulting in a PK that was coolly finished by Hadji for the victory.
Nice 4-1 Lyon – Les Gones may have been suffering from a Champions League hangover, as they were stunned by Nice despite holding 69% of the possession and outshooting them 20-12. In the 4th minute Sable was stopped by Lyon GK Vercoutre (playing in place of Lloris), and Makoun found himself similarly denied at the other end of the pitch by Nice GK Ospina in the 11th minute. The southern club broke through in the 17th minute after some excellent work down the flank from Remy, who then played in Bagayoko for the finish. Remy was also responsible for the second goal, as his cross was deflected into the goal by Cissokho for an OG in the 40th minute. Lyon began to push back, and Lopez was stopped by Ospina in the 60th minute. However, Nice went up 3-0 in the 69th minute after Hellebuyck sent home a pass from Mounier. Govou thought he had pulled a goal back in the 71st minute, but his lob hit the crossbar. The destruction was complete in the 74th minute as Remy got a goal of his own with an easy finish. Lyon managed to avoid the shut-out in the 84th minute when Ederson latched onto a short clearance from Ospina.
Saint-Etienne 0-2 Valenciennes – Although they won 10 corners and took 20 shots on goal, Saint-Etienne were unable to get anything past Valenciennes GK Assembe and were left wanting. In the 11th minute Bergessio was stopped by Assembe, and just 6 minutes later Audel finished off a pass from Cohade for the opening goal. The score could have been 2-0 in the 32nd minute, but Saint-Etienne GK Janot denied Tiene. The clubs traded shots on either side of the half, with Pujol shooting wide in the 44th minute and Mirallas stopped by Assembe in the 46th minute. The latter was kept busy, making a save on Fernandes in the 53rd minute and stopping Bergessio in the 68th minute. Mirallas almost equalized in the 81st minute, hitting the post, and he would rue the miss in the 92nd minute when Ducourtioux scored after some nice work from Sanches and ben Khalfallah.
Sochaux 1-0 Lorient – The only goal of the match came early, and play deteriorated into a stalemate for much of the remaining time. The goal came from a free-kick that was headed home by Perquis in the 8th minute. Vahirua sent the potential equalizer wide in the 19th minute, while Amalfitano found himself stopped by Sochaux GK Richert in the 21st minute. The only other chance of the first half came in the 41st minute when Lorient GK Audard made a fantastic save on Maurice-Belay. Almost immediately after the restart Richert denied Gameiro to preserve the lead. In the 55th minute a poor goal kick from Audard fell to Sverkos, who forced a save from the embarrassed GK. The lead could have been 2-0 in the 62nd minute, but Martin hit the post, and again in the 78th minute, with Maurice-Belay missing a sitter. Lorient had a final chance to equalize, but Monterrubio was stopped by Richert.
Rennes 3-0 Montpellier – The new boys missed a golden opportunity to move atop the Ligue 1 table (!), allowing Rennes to dictate the pace of the match. In the 20th minute Montano’s header off a free-kick was stopped by Rennes GK Douchez, while the latter watched a long-range shot from Costa go wide in the 26th minute. Rennes then began to exert pressure, and after receiving a pass from Leroy, Marveaux displayed some individual skill and finished off with a great shot for the opening goal. He could have had a brace just 2 minutes later, narrowly missing a cross from Gyan. The next goal came in the 50th minute when Leroy had his shot turned onto goal by Sow. After having a goal poached, Leroy then went down to an injury in the 55th minute and was stretchered off. Rennes experienced a moment of panic in the 75th minute after Lacombe latched onto a poor clearance, but he put his shot over the crossbar. The clubs then traded well-worked free-kicks, with Marveaux shooting wide in the 81st minute and Montano doing the same in the 83rd minute. The final goal came in the 94th minute after Gyan beat 2 defenders and finished coolly.
Sunday, October 25th:
Auxerre 3-2 Lille – Auxerre twice came from behind and got the match-winner late to finish off a disappointed Lille. In the 16th minute Balmont shot wide, while his teammate Frau sent a header over the bar in the 21st minute. However, it was Lille who broke through first, as a long ball from GK Butelle to Frau was played on for a fantastic volley from Gervinho. Auxerre equalized in the 36th minute when a cross from Birsa was headed back across goal by Coulibaly for Jelen to finish. Lille regained the lead in the 40th minute when Frau dispossessed Grichting and finished off a nice 1-2 with Gervinho. In the 60th minute Jelen had his shot blocked, and the follow-up shot from Pedretti was stopped by Butelle. Jelen would have his brace in the 78th minute as he equalized again, putting the ball through Butelle’s legs. The comeback was complete in the 82nd minute when Niculae headed home a cross from Capoue.
Lens 0-2 Toulouse – In a match that appeared fairly even, it was the star power of Toulouse that made the difference in the end. Lens started off more quickly, as a free-kick from Roudet was headed over by Boukari in the 9th minute. The feat was repeated in the 22nd minute when an Akala free-kick was headed wide by Yahia. The opening goal came in the 35th minute when a shot from Tabanou hit the crossbar and Sissoko finished on an empty net. The final goal came from Gignac in the 57th minute after he had beaten 2 defenders for the clinical finish. There should have been a 3rd goal, but a cross from Machado was headed onto the post by Sissoko in the 69th minute. Lens had opportunities near the end of the match, but Toulouse GK Pele turned away Roudet in the 78th minute and Boukari in the 82nd minute.
So, after Matchday 10 the top of the table looks like this: (1) Bordeaux, with 22 points on a 7-1-2 record and a +12 goal differential; (2) Monaco, with 21 points on a 7-0-3 record and a +6 goal differential; (3) Lyon, with 20 points on a 6-2-2 record and a +5 goal differential; and (4) Montpellier, with 20 points on a 6-2-2 record and a +4 goal differential.
NOTE: With a game in hand due to the postponement today, Marseille sit in 5th place with 17 points on a 5-2-2 record and a +7 goal differential, while PSG sit in 13th place with 13 points on a 3-4-2 record and +3 goal differential.
