Ligue 1 Weekend Review

Result of the week for L'OM after they smacked around my beloved PSG.

This week saw quite a few clubs look absolutely pathetic in front of goal, managing very few shots and failing to score. The reduced scoring also resulted in no winner for the GSTGC award for the week, despite a serious number of cards given out.

Once again Bordeaux saw their match postponed, although this time it was the weather that was responsible, as their match with Le Mans was canceled due to incredibly high winds.

The result of the week goes to Marseille, as they abused Paris Saint-Germain for an emphatic 3-0 away victory which moved them into 4th place on the table.

Saturday, February 27th:

Lorient 1-0 Sochaux – Despite taking almost as many shots as Lorient (10 to 13), Sochaux only managed to put 1 of them on frame and came away empty-handed. Action didn’t get going until the 20th minute when Boudebouz sent his shot over the crossbar in a sign of things to come. The lone goal of the match came in the 34th minute after some good work down the wing from Amalfitano resulted in a cross that was finished off by Diarra. Sochaux should have equalized a few minutes later, but Brown was stopped by Lorient GK Audard who would then remain untested to finish the match. After the break Lorient looked to increase their lead, with a free-kick from Sosa sent over the bar and Sochaux GK Richert doing well to stop Diarra. The lone opportunity for an equalizer came in the 65th minute when Boudebouz beat several defenders, but he sent his shot wide of the goal. Lorient continued to apply pressure, and both Diarra and Sakuwaha drew saves from a well-worked Richert.

Lyon 2-0 Nice – Les Gones continued their run of good form to remain unbeaten in Ligue 1 in 2010 and keep up the pressure on the clubs ahead of them in the table. The opening goal came quickly, as Pjanic flicked on a pass for Lisandro Lopez to volley home in the 10th minute. The possession remained in favor of Lyon for most of the half, as Bastos drew a save from Nice GK Ospina while Lopez and Makou shot wide of the goal. The second half resulted in a change of direction as Remy was denied twice, once by Lyon GK Lloris and once by the crossbar. In the 77th minute a shot from ben Saada forced a great save from Lloris, but Nice were unable to break through. The end of the match saw a flurry of activity from Lyon as Gomis sent a header over the crossbar. That frenetic pace saw a cross from Bodmer to Gomis deflected by Nice defender Apam past Ospina for an OG in stoppage time.

Monaco 1-0 Boulogne – Although (or perhaps because) they managed to stroll offsides 7 times, Monaco only managed to put 1 shot on frame. Fortunately for them, that was all they would need as Boulogne were equally ineffective. In the 6th minute Puygrenier sent his header wide, while at the other end of the pitch da Rocha shot over the crossbar in the 19th minute. At the half-hour mark Cuvillier had his free-kick denied by Monaco GK Ruffier, who then saw his club take the lead in the 41st minute when Maazou sent home a cross from Alonso. Boulogne had the better opportunities in the second half as da Rocha and Karura were stopped by Ruffier, sandwiched around a shot from Agouazi that hit the post. Monaco could have doubled their lead in the 73rd minute but Nene saw his free-kick hit the post and go wide, while Boulogne were denied the equalizer in the 86th minute when a free-kick from Ramore was turned away by Ruffier.

Nancy 0-2 Grenoble – Grenoble earned a rare victory thanks to Nancy’s inability to put even 1 shot on goal. The latter’s first opportunity was their best one of the match, as Dia hit the post in the 8th minute. The opening goal came in the 14th minute when some good work and a cross from Boya was finished off with an excellent volley from Ravet. The action slowed considerably, with the only other opportunity of the half coming in the 38th minute when a free-kick from Batlles was saved by Nancy GK Bracigliano. The latter’s teammates saw their only chance of the second half come quickly, with Ouaddou sending his free-kick straight at Grenoble GK Viviani in the 49th minute. Just 3 minutes later Bracigliano made an excellent save on a shot from Matsui to prevent the 2-0 deficit, but that goal would eventually come in the 78th minute as Ravet completed his brace on a free-kick.

Toulouse 1-0 Lens – In a fairly even match it took a mistake from Lens for Toulouse to take all 3 points. An early shot from Boukari was stopped by Toulouse GK Pele, who then stood rooted to watch a shot from Eduardo go well over the crossbar. Toulouse then began to apply pressure, with Machado hitting the post with a free-kick in the 30th minute and eliciting a save from Lens GK Runje a few minutes after that. The second half began with a shot from Sow that drew a great save from Pele. The lone goal of the match came in the 57th minute after a poor clearance from Lens defender Bedimo was taken by Sissoko, with that shot pushed out by Runje to a waiting Dupuis for the easy finish. Lens pressed for the equalizer, but a volley from Kovacevic was stopped by Pele while a shot from Eduardo hit the post and went wide in the waning moments.

Valenciennes 1-0 Saint-Etienne – Valenciennes tripled both shots and shots on goal by Saint-Etienne, but still only got 1 goal in this match although that was enough for the 3 points. They began quickly, as a shot from Cohade went just wide in the 3rd minute and Danic was stopped by Saint-Etienne GK Janot just 3 minutes later. The first opportunity for Les Verts came in the 22nd minute when N’Daw was stopped by Valenciennes GK Penneteau, but things slowed down considerably after that. The only other chance of the half came right before the break as a shot from Sako was deflected, forcing Penneteau into a quick reaction. Shortly after the restart ben Khalfallah had a header saved by Janot, while Sanchez Moreno sent a shot over the crossbar. Valenciennes continued to press for the opening goal, with Mater stopped by Janot in the 71st minute, and it arrived in the 77th minute when Audel slammed home a great shot off a cross from ben Khalfallah.

Montpellier 3-1 Rennes – Montpellier moved even with Bordeaux on points at the top of the table (although Les Girondins have 2 games in hand) on the strength of an excellent effort from Joris Marveaux, who faced off against his more-heralded brother Sylvain. The latter started more quickly, as he forced a good 1-on-1 save from Montpellier GK Jourdren in the 8th minute. However, it was the former who would get on the tally sheet in the 25th minute when a free-kick from Costa was directed into the goal off his shoulder. The two combined again 10 minutes later in a more conventional manner, with Marveaux finishing off a free-kick from Costa with a more “legal” part of his body. Sylvain Marveaux was loathe to be upstaged, but his free-kick right before the break was easily saved by Jourdren. After the restart Costa continued to abuse the Stade Rennais defense, drawing saves from Rennes GK Douchez twice within 15 minutes. Rennes pulled 1 goal back in the 70th minute when Briand grabbed onto a loose ball for the finish, but the match would soon deteriorate for his club. The 3rd goal came on a counter-attack in the 82nd minute, and Rennes were soon down to 10 men after Mangane picked up his second YC of the match. Things got even worse after the match had ended when Gyan Asamoah was given a straight RC for foul and abusive language directed at referee Olivier Thual.

Sunday, February 28th:

Lille 1-2 Auxerre – Auxerre used physicality to take the 3 points in this match, committing 30 fouls (to only 13 from Lille) and earning 6 YCs. The club were perhaps taking out their frustrations at having seen the match delayed by 2 hours due to the storm that produced heavy winds and rain. In the 7th minute Obraniak had a free-kick saved by Auxerre GK Sorin, but the opening goal came on the other end of the pitch in the 19th minute as a Pedretti corner was headed home by Contout. The equalizer came 15 minutes later when Cabaye had his shot blocked only for the rebound to fall to a waiting Hazard for the finish. Each club had one more opportunity in the half, with a Mignot free-kick stopped by Lille GK Landreau while Hazard hit the crossbar. The latter started off the second half in the same vein, seeing his shot on goal blocked. Lille continued to apply good pressure as Aubameyang was stopped by Sorin, and Costa and Rami both sent headers over the crossbar. The match-winner arrived in the 73rd minute when Lille defender Rami scuffed his clearance, allowing Contout to finish 1-on-1 past Landreau to complete his brace. Lille had a final chance at another equalizer, but Mavuba sent his long-range shot well over the crossbar.

Paris Saint-Germain 0-3 Marseille – Once again a poor performance from PSG saw them booed off the pitch by their home supporters as they were bossed by their fierce rivals. The club from the capital almost got off to a perfect start in the 2nd minute when Clement sent his shot into the side-netting, but it wasn’t long before L’OM began to assert themselves. After Cheyrou drew a save from PSG GK Edel a goal seemed inevitable, and it arrived in the 15th minute when a free-kick from Bonnart was flicked on by Cheyrou for a clinical finish from ben Arfa. PSG began to push back, with a lob from Giuly well-saved by Marseille GK Mandanda, who then made an outstanding double-save on Hoarau and Giuly shortly before the break. However, it was Marseille who almost scored in first-half stoppage time as a header from Heinze hit the post. The second half saw pure dominance from L’OM, started quickly with a free-kick from Cheyrou that was stopped by Edel, who also turned away Mbia a few minutes later. The next goal came in the 54th minute when a cross from Heinze was one-timed by Gonzalez, and PSG seemed deflated. The final tally arrived in the 71st minute when Niang flicked on a pass for Cheyrou to finish, prompting a pitch invasion from some of the home supporters. After order was restored by the match stewards much of the home crowd actually began cheering for the visiting Marseille side, and PSG’s final opportunity (a shot from Erdinq that was easily stopped by Mandanda) drew more boos.

So, after Matchday 26 the top of the table looks like this: (1) Bordeaux, with 51 points on a 16-3-5 record and a +22 goal differential (and 2 games in hand on the clubs behind them in the table); (2) Montpellier, with 51 points on a 16-3-7 record and a +9 goal differential; (3) Lyon, with 49 points on a 14-7-5 record and a +17 goal differential; and (4) Marseille, with 48 points on a 14-6-5 record and a +19 goal differential.