Ligue 1 Weekend Review

Les Girondins once again get the result of the week.

This week saw several candidates for the GSTGC award, numerous cards (including several of the red variety), and some cracking matches with surprising results. The result of the week was a difficult decision, as Lille upset Lyon 4-3 and Grenoble got their 1st victory of the season, but in the end it was Bordeaux’s 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain that got the nod, as the former moved 4 points clear at the top of the table (although 2nd place Montpellier have a match in hand).

Saturday, December 5th:

Montpellier 2-1 Le Mans – This match started very quickly for Montpellier, as Belhanda shot just wide in the 5th minute. The opening goal came in the 12th minute when Ait Fana received a pass from Camara and sent a lob over Le Mans GK Makaridze. The damage could have been much worse early in the match, as Makaridze stopped Costa in the 27th minute and Ait Fana in the 31st minute. The first opportunity for Le Mans came in the 37th minute when Le Tallec was stopped by Montpellier GK Jourdren. Their lack of offense suffered a further blow in the 41st minute when Dossevi received a straight RC for elbowing Jeunechamp. However, Le Mans responded well to start the second half with Maiga sending a header close in the 53rd minute, and they got the equalizer in the 62nd minute when Le Tallec headed home a free-kick from Corchia. However, their luck turned again in the 72nd minute when a shot from Ait Fana deflected off midfielder Paulo for Compan to head home. There was one final chance for Le Mans to equalize, but Le Tallec was stopped in the 84th minute by a great save from Jourdren.

Nice 1-3 Marseille – The Mediterranean derby was dominated by L’OM despite the fact that the match-winner came late. In the 4th minute a free-kick from Taiwo was stopped by Nice GK Ospina, but the club only had to wait until the 19th minute to open the scoring, as Niang finished off a counter-attack after a nice pass from Abriel. Nice managed to equalize in the 33rd minute when Bagayoko provided a good ball for Coulibaly to finish, but they were reduced to 10 men in first half stoppage time when Apam received a straight RC for a clash with Heinze. The second half saw Nice unable to muster even 1 shot on goal, and it was only a matter of time before Marseille retook the lead. Ospina stopped Gonzalez in the 57th minute and Cheyrou in the 71st minute, but Gonzalez would get his revenge in the 77th minute after dribbling through the defense and engaging in some nice passing with Niang. Kone secured the 3 points in the 86th minute after he cleanly finished off a long ball.

Rennes 1-0 Lorient – Lorient took only 9 shots, and managed to put precisely zero of them on frame in a surprising loss. Rennes started more quickly, with Gyan Asamoah having his cross punched clear by Lorient GK Cappone only to fall at the feet of Sow for an easy finish. The former’s teammates took heart from the opening goal, with Marveaux almost providing a second in the 18th minute after dribbling 3 defenders only to be stopped by Cappone. Just a few minutes later Tettey had his shot deflected to Danze, but the latter put his header wide of the mark. Lorient began to push back toward the end of the first half, but both Ducasse and Gameiro hit the post with their efforts. Rennes then retook the initiative in the second half, with Marveaux shooting wide in the 53rd minute. There were two final chances to increase their lead, but both Bocanegra and Marveaux hit the post (as the woodwork was even busier than either GK in this match). Fortunately for Rennes, their (very) early goal was enough to take the 3 points.

Saint-Etienne 0-0 Sochaux – The 2 clubs combined for 9 shots on goal and…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. What? I must have dozed off. This match was the snoozer of the week despite a few well-taken shots. In the 3rd minute Bergessio shot just wide for Saint-Etienne’s first chance, while in the 9th minute his teammate Landrin almost drew an OG from Sochaux defender Perquis with a cross. The first real chance came in the 17th minute when a volley from Dalmat was well-stopped by Saint-Etienne GK Janot, who also turned away Martin in the 36th minute. The latter then sent a free-kick wide in the 48th minute and was stopped yet again by Janot in the 56th minute. Each club had 1 final opportunity to earn the victory, but Sako was denied by Sochaux GK Richert in the 61st minute while Sverkos was stopped by Janot in the 83rd minute.

Valenciennes 3-1 Monaco – The club from the principality was no match for a vastly improved Valenciennes squad, although both sides had a bit of luck here. In the 9th minute Ducourtioux had his shot stopped by Monaco GK Ruffier, who then made a great save on Audel in the 14th minute. The latter turned provider in the 27th minute, flicking on a pass for Ducourtioux to finish. He should have had a goal of his own in the 39th minute, but his volley was over the crossbar. Monaco finally got off a shot in the 44th minute, with Adriano stopped by Valenciennes GK Assembe. Within 5 minutes of the restart Nene was brought down in the box by Tiene and finished off the resulting PK himself for the equalizer. However, Valenciennes continued to increase their pressure and in the 85th minute Samassa volleyed home a cross from Audel for the match-winner. They got another goal in stoppage time, as ben Khalfallah had his shot parried by Ruffier but was able to put home his own rebound.

Bordeaux 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain – In an a match that was exciting despite only a total of 5 shots on goal, it was some of the unsung heroes that made the difference for Les Girondins. Play was aggressive on both sides of the pitch, but the opening goal didn’t come until the 24th minute when Tremoulinas sent in a cross to be headed home by Plasil. The latter could have had another in the 35th minute after some nice work from Gouffran, but he sent his shot wide. PSG then lost Erdinq to an injury, and he was replaced by Maurice who almost made an immediate impact, having his shot stopped by Bordeaux GK Carrasso in the 37th minute. 10 minutes after the restart Chantome played Luyindula through, but he put his shot wide. The final opportunity for PSG came in the 79th minute when Maurice fed Luyindula, but once again his shot was wide.

Sunday, December 6th:

Auxerre 1-3 Nancy – Auxerre continued to struggle without leading striker Jelen, as they were also without suspended captain Pedretti, and slipped out of the top of the table. In the 8th minute Capoue sent a shot just over the crossbar, and he was denied by Nancy GK Bracigliano just 2 minutes later. The first goal came in the 25th minute when Luiz headed home a cross from Malonga, but Auxerre equalized 10 minutes later when Birsa slammed home his free-kick. The latter could have had a second goal in the 40th minute, but his shot was stopped by Bracigliano. Nancy retook the lead in the 51st minute when Ouaddou sent in his header, after which the pace of the match slowed down. In the 87th minute Hadji finished off a cross from Feret, but the match ended on a sour note when Ca received a straight RC for elbowing Ndinga in stoppage time.

Boulogne 2-1 Lens – This was by far the strangest match of the season, as the clubs combined for 6 shots on goal but 8 YCs. Lens earned 7 corners (to 1 for Boulogne) and held 74% of the possession, but lost after seeing OGs for both sides. The first significant action came in the 17th minute when Boulogne went down to 10 men as Ndiaye received his second YC (having earned his first in the 7th minute) for a nasty tackle on Roudet. The latter was then involved in the first goal, as his free-kick was headed into the goal by Boulogne defender Dembele for an OG in the 22nd minute. His teammate Karuru spared his blushes in the 40th minute by finishing off a pass from Adefemi in the correct goal for the equalizer. Not to be outdone, Lens contributed an OG of their own as a Cuvillier free-kick was turned into the goal by Lens defender Sartre.  The second half was more routine, although it began with an Adefimi goal that was disallowed for a foul in the 52nd minute. Lens had a final opportunity to equalize, but Jemaa put his header directly into the hands of Boulogne GK Bedenik in the 80th minute.

Grenoble 1-0 Toulouse – Grenoble got a late goal to secure their first victory of the season in a match where they deserved the 3 points. In the 3rd minute Gignac had his shot turned away by a great save from Grenoble GK Le Crom, while on the other end of the pitch Macquet sent a volley over the bar in the 19th minute. Grenoble continued their pressure, with Paillot hitting the post with a header in the 38th minute and Akrour hitting the crossbar in the 44th minute. The second half saw more of the same as Calve shot over the bar in the 50th minute and Matsui had his shot stopped by Toulouse GK Blondel just 1 minute later. The goal finally came in the 81st minute when a free-kick from Ljuboja was dropped by Blondel nearly at the feet of Dieuze for an easy finish.

Lille 4-3 Lyon – In another thriller, Lille earned 9 corner kicks and took 23 shots (putting 14 on goal) but still needed a very late goal to overcome an incredible performance from Lisandro Lopez. The latter got the match started early, finishing off some nice work from Gomis and Kallstrom with a goal in the 2nd minute. Lille saw their own driving force go into action as Gervinho was stopped by Lyon GK Lloris in the 8th minute. Obraniak thought he had headed home the equalizer in the 13th minute, but his shot was cleared off the line by Gassama. Lloris was then called upon to make a fantastic double-save on Gervinho in the 17th minute. The 22nd minute saw a handball from Obraniak on a Pjanic free-kick, and Lopez had his brace on the resulting PK. Lille began their climb back into the match just 2 minutes later when a Cabaye header was pushed out to a waiting Frau for the clinical finish, but things looked bleak again in the 35th minute when Lopez completed his hat-trick after a long, scintillating run. However, Gervinho was not done either, and he outmuscled Lyon defender Boumsong in the 53rd minute to send his shot into the back of the net (and win the GSTGC award for the week). The latter almost gifted Lille another goal a few minutes later when he nearly deflected a shot from Rami into his own net, but he was saved by the quick reaction of Lloris. In the 70th minute Gassama fouled Debuchy in the box, and Cabaye finished off the resulting PK for the equalizer. Gervinho looked to claim the victory a few minutes later, but he was stopped again by Lloris. The former would have the last word, however, as he received a pass from Hazard in the 90th minute and sent home the match-winner.

So, on Matchday 15 the top of the table looks like this: (1) Bordeaux, with 31 points on a 10-1-4 record and a +14 goal differential; (2) Montpellier, with 27 points on an 8-3-3 record and a +6 goal differential; (3) Valenciennes, with 26 points on an 8-2-5 record and a +6 goal differential; and (4) Lyon, with 26 points on a 7-5-3 record and a +5 goal differential.