Ligue 1 Weekend Review

Result of the week for Auxerre, who claimed an impressive double-dip.

This week continued the trend of clubs struggling to score, as most sides could only find the back of the net once. The result of the week goes to Auxerre, who beat Bordeaux 2-1 and drew Montpellier 1-1 to boost their own chances at the Ligue 1 title.

Wednesday, March 3th:

Bordeaux 1-2 Auxerre – In a reshuffled schedule Les Girondins fell to an aggressive Auxerre club that was looking to threaten the top of the table. The former looked to have gotten off to a perfect start in the 7th minute when a cross from Tremoulinas drifted over the head of Auxerre GK Sorin. The latter then did well to prevent a 2-goal deficit when he pushed a shot from Sertic over the crossbar. The action then moved to the other end of the pitch as Hengbart sent a header just wide, and Auxerre felt aggrieved at the end of the half when Pedretti was brought down in the box by Sertic with no call.

They began the second half with renewed pressure as Niculae sent yet another shot wide. After Gourcuff scuffed an easy attempt near the hour mark, the equalizer came when Niculae played a ball for the easy finish from Jelen. The sides exchanged volleyed attempts wide of the goal, and Auxerre grabbed the match-winner in the 83rd minute when a shot from Jelen came back off the crossbar only for him to complete his brace on the follow-up shot.

Saturday, March 13th:

Le Mans 0-1 Nice – Although this match was fairly even statistically, Nice always looked the dominant side and deserved the 3 points. In the 11th minute Remy clattered a shot off the crossbar, while on the other end of the pitch Le Tallec had the ball taken off his foot by Nice GK Ospina. Near the half-hour mark Remy sent his free-kick barely wide of the mark, while Coulibaly was stopped by Ovono shortly before the half. The pressure continued on the other side of the restart, with a shot from Bagayoko drawing a great save from Ovono. The only player from Le Mans who seemed interested in the match was Le Tallec, and he once again forced a save from Ospina near the hour mark. The lone goal of the match came in the 76th minute when the in-form Remy took a pass from ben Saada and sent home a shot from a difficult angle.

Lorient 1-0 Lens – Lorient used a disciplined trap, catching Lens offsides 7 times, and clinical passing to steal the victory in this match. The latter club were a 1-man show early, as Jemaa was denied twice by Lorient GK Audard around a shot that went just over the crossbar. The only other action of the first half saw Roudet mimic his teammate with a shot well over the crossbar. The first effort for Lorient came soon after the restart, with Vahirua forcing a save from Lens GK Runje. In contrast, Lens completely disappeared, with their only effort of the second half coming in the 62nd minute when Demont had his free-kick easily stopped by Audard. The match-winner arrived in the 79th minute when Marchal headed home a corner from Vahirua, and they should have had a second near the end of the match when a shot from Gameiro was cleared off the line by Lens defender Yahia.

Monaco 0-0 Bordeaux – Facing their second Ligue 1 match within a few days, and ahead of a Champions League match this Wednesday, Les Girondins fielded a weakened side and suffered for it as the draw loosened their grip on the league title. This match was even across all statistical categories, with the sides sharing possession while committing the same number of fouls (20) and putting the same number of shots on frame (2). Things started slowly, with Sertic sending a free-kick straight at Monaco GK Ruffier in the 14th minute, with the latter then stopping Plasil a few minutes later. On the other end of the pitch a cross from Sagbo was well cut-out by Bordeaux GK Carrasso, who had been relatively bored up to that point. Near the end of the half a free-kick from Nene was cleared by the defense, but only out as far as Puygrenier who then put the follow-up wide of goal. The second half opened comically as a volley from Bellion was sent well wide of goal despite the shot coming from within 5 yards. A few minutes later a long ball from Ruffier was well-taken by Sagbo, who had his hard shot stopped by Carrasso. The latter’s teammates continued to embarrass in front of goal, with both Sane and Gouffrean shooting well wide of the mark. A frustrated Laurent Blanc then made the unusual decision in the 68th minute to enact a triple-substitution, bringing on Chamakh, Jussie and Gourcuff for an offensive spark. Unfortunately for him, none of the substitutes were able to make a difference, although they managed to avoid being injured and will look to assert themselves against Olympiakos this week.

Montpellier 1-1 Auxerre – In their second excellent result of the week, Auxerre continued to pressure the 2 clubs ahead of them in the table with a difficult draw. Despite only holding 39% of the possession, the club managed to put as many shots on frame (4) as Montpellier to earn the 1 point. In the 4th minute Camara sent a shot wide from close-range, but then the action slowed considerably. Jelen drew a save from Montpellier GK Jourdren, while near the half-hour mark an attempted lob from Jeunechamp hit the crossbar to the relief of Auxerre GK Sorin. The opening goal came in stoppage-time as Oliech sent home a cross from Niculae, winning the GSTGC award in the process. Montpellier began the second half with renewed pressure, as Montano grazed the post with his shot. The equalizer arrived in the 66th minute when a short clearance from Auxerre defender Berthod was taken by Costa for a clinical finish. After good saves on either end of the pitch (Ait Fana turned away by Sorin; Birsa stopped by Jourdren), Auxerre should have taken the lead in the 83rd minute when Niculae hit the post with a volley and Jelen missed an absolute sitter on the follow-up. After that miss the club settled into a defensive tactic, with Bethod earning a 2nd YC in stoppage time for time-wasting.

Nancy 1-3 Boulogne – In another match that featured a well-executed offsides trap, Boulogne used defense to frustrate a Nancy side that still managed to take 15 shots. Nancy began early, as in the 3rd minute a free-kick from Feret resulted in a shot from Bakar that was deflected. The latter was then turned away by Boulogne GK Bedenik near the half-hour mark. In the 32nd minute Agouazi opened the scoring with a header on a free-kick from Ducatel, although the equalizer came just 9 minutes later on a hard shot from Malonga. Nancy pushed for the lead early in the second half, but after Brison hit the post and Hadji was turned away by Bedenik within the first 20 minutes, they saw no more opportunities. The lead went to Boulogne in the 71st minute after a defensive miscommunication between Lemaitre and Brison allowed Lecointe to send a pass across for Moussilou, who sent in his shot off the crossbar. The match was put out of reach in the 77nd minute on a well-taken lob from Cuvillier.

Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 Sochaux – PSG got an outstanding performance from Mevlut Erdinq against his former club to take the 3 points in what has been an extremely disappointing season. He started his offensive show early, sending a shot straight at Sochaux GK Dreyer in the 6th minute. The first goal came in the 17th minute when Hoarau took hold of a loose ball and moved past Perquis and Boudebouz for the clinical finish. The Erdinq display began 1 minute later as he sent home a flicked-on pass from Giuly. After sending a header wide, Erdinq struck again in the 35th minute when he was freed by some good work from Sessegnon and Jallet. Sochaux had their first opportunity of the match in the 55th minute when an incredible volley from Sverkos drew an equally incredible save from PSG GK Edel. Near the hour mark Jallet was turned away by Dreyer, and the former then brought down Martin in the box allowing Boudebouz to finish off the resulting PK. The latter could have had a second just a few minutes later, but his free-kick was turned aside by Edel. In the 70th minute some excellent work from Clement and Hoarau allowed Erdinq to complete his hat-trick, and it was only an excellent effort from Dreyer late in the match that denied him a fourth.

Lyon 1-1 Saint-Etienne – Les Gones, perhaps weary from their mid-week Champions League victory over Real Madrid, slipped further out of contention for the Ligue 1 title after a draw with relegation-threatened Saint-Etienne. The latter club started more quickly as Payet was denied by Lyon GK Lloris while Riviere missed two opportunities (including an embarrassingly-fluffed shot which hit the post) within the first 15 minutes. Match action slowed until the opening goal in the 39th minute, when Riviere atoned for his misses by heading home a cross from Bergessio. Lyon must have gotten the hair-dryer treatment in the dressing room at the half, as they came out with vigor after the break. Toulalan drew a save from Saint-Etienne GK Janot early, while Lopez sent a shot just wide. Just after the hour mark Janot did very well to stop a well-struck volley from Toulalan, and he made 2 more excellent saves against Gomis and Lopez. The latter would not be denied in the 79th minute, however, finding the back of the net with a shot that went in off the crossbar. Les Gones had 2 final opportunities to take the full points, but Toulalan put his header against the crossbar and a free-kick from Kallstrom was well-saved by Janot.

Sunday, March 14th:

Lille 1-0 Grenoble – The travails of hapless Grenoble continue, as the side amassed more YCs (5) than shots on goal (3) in this match. In the 6th minute Aubameyang sent his shot wide, while in the 19th minute a corner from Hazard was flapped at by Grenoble GK Viviani, who recovered in time to turn away the shot from Chedjou. The first opportunity for Grenoble came in the 22nd minute when Batlles sent his shot over the crossbar, and it turned out to be the last action of the half for either side. The lone goal of the match came in the only manner possible in the 46th minute, as a cross from Emerson was deflected by Grenoble defender Cesar into his own net for an OG. The latter was eager to atone for his misfortune, but sent his shot straight at Lille GK Landreau, who then also turned away a shot from Romao with a great save. Lille could have had a second in the waning moments of the match, but a header from Toure that appeared goal-bound was kept out by Cesar.

Valenciennes 0-2 Rennes – Although they maintained 57% of the possession and took 16 shots, Valenciennes could only put 1 effort on frame and received the result they deserved. In the 3rd minute Danic sent a difficult shot wide in what would be a sign of things to come, while their lone shot on goal came in the 12th minute when Mater had his free-kick stopped by Rennes GK Douchez. The opening goal came in the 27th minute when Marveaux finished off a cross from Briand, and the next one arrived in the 39th minute when Gyan Asamoah volleyed home a pass from Lemoine. The second half saw more of the same, as Tettey drew a save from Valenciennes GK Penneteau while Saez put his shot barely over the crossbar. Things were made even worse for Valenciennes in the 78th minute when Tiene saw his 2nd YC for a foul on M’Vila, but Rennes did not press their advantage.

Toulouse 1-1 Marseille – In a match that saw fast-paced action, L’OM had GK Mandanda to thank for earning the draw after a string of spectacular saves. The first true opportunity of the match came in the 13th minute when Gonzalez elicited a save from Toulouse GK Pele, and shortly after that Mandanda denied Braaten at the other end of the pitch. The opening goal came in the 30th minute when a corner from Valbuena found its way to Brandao, who side-footed home an excellent shot. The lead did not last long, as in the 40th minute a pass from Tabanou was excellently back-heeled by Kazim-Richards for Machado to lash home with venom. Although the Marseille GK had no chance at stopping that shot, it was clear that he was determined to let no others past him. In the second half Mandanda turned away Kazim-Richards and Ebondo within a few minutes of each other, both with excellent diving saves. He also denied Didot with another stunning save, and was relieved when Dupois put his shot straight at him. L’OM had a final chance to take the lead late in the match, but Toulouse GK Pele produced an outstanding save to deny a free-kick from Taiwo.

So, after Matchday 28 the top of the table looks like this: (1) Bordeaux, with 53 points on a 16-5-6 record and a +21 goal differential (and still with a match in hand); (2) Montpellier, with 53 points on a 16-5-7 record and a +9 goal differential; (3) Auxerre, with 52 points on a 15-7-6 record and a +5 goal differential; and (4) Lille, with 51 points on a 15-6-7 record and a +23 goal differential.