Ligue 1 Weekend Review

Result of the week for Union Sportive Boulogne Cote d'Opale for their 0-0 draw against Les Gones.

This week saw quite a few clubs only manage to find the back of the net once, leading to a few surprising results. What was completely unsurprising, however, is the fact that once again Paris Saint-Germain supporters got out of control, leading to 40 arrests ahead of their match at Lens. The result of the week goes to Boulogne, who managed a scoreless draw at home against Lyon despite being well in the relegation zone.

However, the match of the week was clearly Bordeaux v. Montpellier, as the sides saw numerous cards (including an early RC), inconsistent (and baffling) referee decisions, penalty kicks and some cracking goals, while Laurent Blanc did his best to ignore the rumours of being replaced by former Marseille gaffer Eric Gerets if he leaves this summer to take over Les Bleus or a “bigger” European side.

Ed Note: Watching a Ligue 1 match on the Canal+ broadcast is a real treat. The announcers constantly crack jokes and make fun of any poor play, they interview the gaffers during the match in the technical area, they interviewed Ciani after his ejection – just good stuff. Even if you don’t speak French it’s worth it to watch for the excellent graphics (e.g. space on the pitch covered) and the super-slo-mo replays.

Saturday, March 6th:

Auxerre 1-0 Valenciennes – Auxerre haven’t lost at home since early December, and Valenciennes never looked like threatening that streak as they failed to put a single shot on frame while committing 23 fouls. Neither side saw any good opportunities early in the match, with the first real chance resulting in the match-winner in the 38th minute as a long ball from Contout was well-taken by Jelen, who then dribbled Valenciennes GK Penneteau for the clinical finish. He could have had a brace just 2 minutes later, but this time Penneteau was up to the task. Jelen started off the second half in the same way that he ended the first, this time putting his shot over the crossbar. In the 59th minute Contout sent another ball long, with Niculae the intended target, but Penneteau did well to come off his line. Despite everything Valenciennes had a chance to equalize in the 88th minute, but Danic put his shot over the crossbar.

Boulogne 0-0 Lyon – Although Lyon won 9 corners (compared to only 2 for Boulogne), the sides were very evenly-matched in terms of shots (including shots on goal) and fouls, and the draw was well-deserved. In the 1st minute Cuvillier was stopped by Lyon GK Lloris, who then watched Thil shoot barely wide a few minutes later. Cuvillier remained active, and in the 20th minute his shot elicited a fantastic save from Lloris. The only other chance of the first half came in the 35th minute when a hard shot from Bastos was well-saved by Boulogne GK Bedenik. Soon after the restart the latter did very well to stop Bodmer 1-on-1, while on the other end of the pitch Kapo sent his volley wide of the post. Lyon began to press hard, and a shot from Kallstrom on the hour mark drew another great save from Bedenik, who then stopped a Bastos free-kick a few minutes later. The final opportunity for Boulogne came in the 76th minute, with Cuvillier stopped by Lloris, while Lyon were denied in the 85th minute when a shot from Pjanic was cleared off the line by Boulogne midfielder Agouazi.

Lens 1-1 Paris Saint-Germain – Playing in front of an entirely home crowd, as PSG supporters have been banned from away matches, Lens had their chances and will be disappointed to have only earned 1 point. Things started very slowly, with the first good chance coming in the 28th minute when a free-kick from Armand was stopped by Lens GK Runje. The latter had to be at his best 2 minutes later, making a great save on a volley from Sessegnon. PSG continued their pressure, and just before the break Erdinq put his header off the post. The second half began with pressure from Lens, as they were urged on by an in-form crowd. In the 60th minute Eduardo had his shot deflected out by PSG defender Camara, and in the 66th minute Hermach was denied by PSG GK Edel, but a goal always looked to be coming. The home supporters didn’t have to wait long, as in the 68th minute a cross from Demont was sent towards Monnet-Paquet for a shot on goal which was blocked, only for Roudet to send home the rebound with 2 deflections past an unlucky Edel. The action slowed on both ends of the pitch as Lens tried to grind out the victory, but they paid for their tactics in the 94th minute when a free-kick from Sankhare came back off the crossbar for an easy tap-in from Sessegnon.

Nice 2-3 Nancy – Nancy were lucky to escape with the victory after they twice allowed Nice to equalize, needing a stoppage-time goal to steal the 3 points. The first goal came in the 5th minute when Feret stole the ball off Nice defender Apam and set up Bakar for the relatively easy finish. It took just 2 minutes for the equalizer, as a cross from Fae was sent home by a diving header from Civelli (who won the GSTGC award in the process). After a let-down in pace, Nancy pulled ahead again in the 27th minute when a long goal-kick from Nancy GK Bracigliano was taken down by Brison with a great touch and a clinical finish. Yet another equalizer came shortly thereafter, as Remy played ben Saada in for a close-range shot that left Bracigliano no chance. Almost immediately after the restart ben Saada looked to have a brace on a free-kick, but Bracigliano did well to keep it out. Once again the pace of the match slowed, with the next chance in the 79th minute seeing a corner from Digard cleared off the line by Nancy defender Lemaitre. The match-winner came in the 93rd minute when a shot from Traore was punched out by Ospina, only for Dia to take the rebound for an easy tap-in.

Rennes 1-0 Monaco – The sides were fairly even statistically, but the most surprising aspect of this match was not the victory but who scored the match-winner. In the 13th minute Rennes GK Douchez did well to come out and cut off a cross from Traore, while 1 minute later he stopped Alonso for his only true action of the match. The lone goal came in the 28th minute when a free-kick from Marveaux was headed home by Bocanegra. The latter was in an offensive mood, as in the 41st minute his cross-turned-shot was punched out by Monaco GK Ruffier, with Leroy sending the follow-up shot just wide. The club from the principality saw their last opportunity come just after the restart, with Mollo sending his header wide. The remainder of the second half was dominated by Rennes, with Lemoine drawing a save from Ruffier near the hour mark, and Bocanegra shooting wide late in the match.

Sochaux 1-0 Toulouse – In another close match that saw only 1 goal, it was the struggling Sochaux side that got a late match-winner to take all 3 points. They started quickly, with Mikari drawing a save from Toulouse GK Pele in the 4th minute. The latter was kept busy, as in the 18th minute he did well to deal with a cross-turned-shot from Faty. Sochaux should have had the opening goal in the 28th minute, but Brown fluffed a chance off a free-kick from Boudebouz. The lone chance of the first half for Toulouse came in the 42nd minute on a free-kick from Didot that drew a great save from Sochaux GK Richert. They continued that pressure after the restart, with Sissoko, Tabanou and Capoue forcing Richert into saves in quick succession. In the 70th minute a shot from Faty was deflected twice, and Pele did very well to make the difficult save. Unfortunately, the latter was left helpless in the 84th minute when a clinical free-kick from Boudebouz found the back of the net.

Saint-Etienne 1-1 Lille – Les Verts continued their climb free of the relegation zone, earning a draw against a Lille side that still have European aspirations. The opening goal came in the 18th minute when Payet dribbled through the midfield (leaving Cabaye and Mavuba looking foolish) and sent a pass to Riviere for the finish. The latter was stopped by Lille GK Landreau just 1 minute later, and he would rue that miss 1 minute after that when a corner from Cabaye was flicked on by Beria for Dumont to head home the equalizer. Saint-Etienne were turned away twice more in the half, with Sako and Bergessio denied by Landreau. The latter was kept busy after the restart as well, making saves on Fernandes and Bergessio, and then watching Diakhate send a volley over the crossbar within the first 15 minutes. Lille began to push back, and Frau sent a shot wide while Cabaye slammed a shot against the post. The final opportunity of the match went to Les Verts very late, seeing Payet shoot just wide.

Sunday, March 7th:

Grenoble 1-1 Le Mans – The struggling sides were both hoping for the full 3 points from this match, but in the end it was a well-deserved draw based on their even performances. The opening goal came very quickly, as in the 2nd minute a free-kick from Batlles bounced around for an excellent turn and shot from Akrour. Le Mans refused to be put on the back foot, with Dossevi forcing a save from Grenoble GK Viviani in the 15th minute. The former also took a shot in the 25th minute that was pushed back out to Maiga, who then put his follow-up shot wide. Grenoble could have doubled their lead just before the break on a counter-attack started by Boya, but Ravet was stopped by Le Mans GK Ovono. The equalizer came shortly after the restart when a pass from Le Tallec was well-controlled by Maiga, who then turned and put his shot into the back of the net. The latter could have had a brace just 1 minute later, but he was turned away by Viviani. After Batlles put a shot well over the crossbar, Sauget was denied by Ovono and put his follow-up shot wide of the goal. Le Mans had an excellent chance to steal the 3 points in the 87th minute, but Helstad managed to step on the ball when he was through on goal.

Marseille 1-1 Lorient – Marseille missed out on the opportunity to temporarily move into a tie on points with Bordeaux and Montpellier (who played the later match in the day) after being unlucky to only draw with Lorient. Ligue 1-leading scorer Niang looked to add to his exploits in the 1st minute, but sent his shot wide, a feat which he duplicated in the 15th minute while 1-on-1 with Lorient GK Audard. Near the half-hour mark some good work from ben Arfa and Valbuena resulted in a shot from Gonzalez that drew a great save from Audard. L’OM felt aggrieved in the 40th minute when Bonnart appeared to be fouled in the box by Diarra with no call, but the opening goal came just 3 minutes later when a cross from the former was sent home from Niang. A quick start after the break saw Valbuena stopped by Audard once again, which seemed to wake up Lorient. The equalizer arrived in the 65th minute when a free-kick from Vahirua was headed on by Koscielny, who followed-up his shot to be there for the finish after a great save from Marseille GK Mandanda. Each side had a final opportunity to take the lead, but Valbuena sent his shot over the crossbar while Gameiro was through on goal and missed comically.

Bordeaux 1-1 Montpellier – The match of the week featured end-to-end action as Bordeaux and Montpellier both pushed for a crucial 3 points in their fight for the top of the table. Les Girondins started more quickly as a free-kick from Gourcuff was tipped around the post by Montpellier GK Jourdren, who then turned away the former again 3 minutes later. As both clubs began to play more physically that style turned against Bordeaux in the 33rd minute when Ciani took down Montano from behind in the box and earned a RC for his actions. Costa stepped up to take the resulting PK, but he was turned away by Bordeaux GK Carrasso. A few minutes later things turned comical as Chalme, already on a YC, handled in the box and was called for a PK, although he escaped another card as the referee appeared reluctant to put Bordeaux down to 9 men. Montano stepped up for the PK and found the back of the net, but he was forced to retake the kick as players from both clubs had entered the area early. On his next try he was denied by Carrasso, although it appeared that players had entered the area early once again and Montano should have been given yet another retake. The second half saw continued physical play, but it was Bordeaux who was the more aggressive as Montpellier failed to press their 1-man advantage. Near the hour mark a ball into the box bounced around before being slammed into the bottom corner by Chamakh for the opening goal. This appeared to wake up Montpellier, who were spurred on by some fantastic traveling support, and they surged forward looking for an equalizer. Although Les Girondins thought they had escaped, that equalizer finally came in stoppage time as Costa sent in a low, hard free-kick that nonetheless required an error from Carrasso to squirt into goal.

So, after Matchday 27 the top of the table looks like this: (1) Bordeaux, with 52 points on a 16-4-5 record and a +22 goal differential (with 2 goals games in hand); (2) Montpellier, with 52 points on a 16-4-7 record and a +9 goal differential; (3) Lyon, with 50 points on a 14-8-5 record and a +17 goal differential; and (4) Marseille, with 49 points on a 14-7-5 record and a +19 goal differential.