Ligue 1 Weekend Review

Result of the week to Les Lionceaux, who locked up European competition.

Things are a little clearer at the top of the table, but the final relegation spot is still very much in contention.

The result of the week goes to Sochaux, who locked up their place in the Europa League with a 2-1 victory over Saint-Etienne.

Saturday, May 21st:

Auxerre 0-1 Brest – Les Auxerrois continued their string of poor matches, and they now find themselves tied on 46 points with their opponents and neither of them safe from relegation. In the 8th minute a poor clearance from Auxerre GK Sorin fell to Bigne, but his attempted lob went sailing over the crossbar. After Grougi sent a shot wide in the 14th minute, Contout marched down to the opposite end of the pitch only to find nothing but the side-netting with his effort. Each club had a chance to finish out the first half, with a free-kick from Grougi turned away by Sorin and a shot from Traore drawing an excellent save from Brest GK Elana. The second half began slowly, with the first opportunity seeing the match-winner scored in the 63rd minute as some good control from Ayite freed Toure for a hard shot. The lead was almost doubled just 4 minutes later, but Roux was denied by Sorin. The latter’s teammates had their chances to equalize, but Sammaritano was stopped by Elana while in alone on the netminder, and a cheeky backheel from Jung was easily scooped up.

Lens 0-1 Arles – Despite calls to boycott the match between the two already-relegated sides, there were (allegedly) 28,000 in attendance. Sadly, they would have been better off staying home as the match set back football 100 years with its poor, listless play. The first chance saw an early volley from Eduardo stopped by Arles GK Plante, and the next chance wasn’t until the 35th minute when the former hit the crossbar with a header. The lone goal of the match came in the 44th minute as Kermorgant headed home a corner from Meriem. The former could have had a brace in the 51st minute, but his shot elicited an outstanding save from Lens GK Kasraoui. The netminder denied Kermorgant a final time on a vicious volley a few minutes later, and Lens saw their only opportunity of the half wasted on a shot from Demont that went wide.

Lyon 0-0 Caen – Les Gones dominated the match but were unable to come away the win when the full points would have ensured their place in the Champions League. Holding 59% of the possession and taking 22 shots (although only 6 of those were on frame), Claude Puel’s men saw chance after chance go wanting as they appeared slightly nervous. They should have gotten off to the perfect (if lucky) start in the 6th minute when Cissokho’s cross drifted towards goal, catching Caen GK Thebaux out of position, but the effort hit the crossbar. Ederson then sent a shot spiraling wide, while a volley from Delgado was denied by Thebaux. The latter was kept busy, also turning away a free-kick from Kallstrom in the 15th minute. Caen didn’t get their first sight of goal until the 35th minute, with El Arabi shooting well over the crossbar. The half ended with Lisandro Lopez denied by Thebaux, who did well to also save the follow-up from Pjanic. Shortly after the restart a free-kick from Bastos was stopped by Thebaux, who then finally saw a slight reprieve as Caen pushed the offense. Near the hour-mark a shot from El Arabi was saved by Lyon GK Lloris, and the follow-up was cleared off the line by Cissokho. Lyon finished the match with a final chance to take the points, but Lisandro Lopez sent his header over the crossbar.

Marseille 2-2 Valenciennes – Les Phoceens failed to earn the full points that would have guaranteed them second place in Ligue 1, although they maintain a significant goal differential over nearest rival Lyon. In the 14th minute a shot from Andre Ayew brought out a good save from Valenciennes GK Penneteau, who proved to be relatively untroubled for the remainder of the match. Les Atheniens struck first, with Kadir finishing off some good work from Pujol and Cohade in the 33rd minute. That lead didn’t last long, as just a minute later a free-kick from Diawara was flicked on by Valbuena for the good finish from Andre Ayew. Marseille took the lead just 3 minutes after that equalizer, with Remy sending home an excellent diving header on a corner from Valbuena. The second half began with a shot from Remy that went wide of the mark, but it was Valenciennes who broke through next, Gomis sending home a cross from Ducourtioux for the equalizer. Still, Marseille had a final chance to steal the full points, but Remy saw his header blocked.

Montpellier 0-1 Monaco – The club from the principality got an important win in their efforts to avoid relegation, although they are still in the drop zone. They began quickly, with a header from Hansson destined for the goal before hitting Monaco midfielder Park. In the 17th minute a header from Giroud was denied by Monaco GK Ruffier, who then turned away Utaka in the 22nd minute. The only other chance of the half came at the other end of the pitch, with a shot from Coutadeur turned away by Montpellier GK Jourdren. The second half began with a shot from Dernis that was saved by Ruffier, who was rewarded for his efforts in the 56th minute when Moukandjo found the back of the net on a wonderful volley. Unfortunately for the Monaco netminder, he was injured on the hour-mark and had to be replaced by Chabbert. Shaking off the change, Monaco continued to press, with a header from Puygrenier saved by Jourdren and a free-kick from Malonga hitting the post. The replacement keeper was only called into action in the 85th minute, doing well to stop a volley from Giroud.

Nice 2-0 Lorient – Nice also got a needed win, but even with the full points taken they remain in danger of relegation. Holding only 31% of the possession, it was their efficiency (6 of the 11 shots were on frame) that allowed Nice to come away with the victory, thanks largely to the efforts of Mouloungui. The latter was the recipient of an excellent pass from Coulibaly after a long ball, taking just 27 seconds to open the scoring (yes, I said seconds). Lorient reacted to the early deficit with offensive pressure, seeing both Amalfitano and Monnet-Paquet turned away by Nice GK Ospina. They were disappointed, then, in the 16th minute to concede the brace to Mouloungui (who won the GSTGC award in the process) after he took down yet another long ball and dribbled the defense. The latter could have had a hat-trick in the 54th minute, but his header was cleared off the line by Lorient midfielder Jouffre. Lorient didn’t get off a shot in the second half until the 74th minute, with Fanchone denied by an excellent save from Ospina. They were made to pay for leaving it late as they went down to 10 men in the 83rd minute when Romao saw his 2nd YC for a foul on Digard, and were unable to generate any offense after that point.

Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 Lille – Having already sealed the Ligue 1 title, Lille had nothing to play for but still forced PSG into a draw that sees the latter need a victory with a loss from Lyon next week to take the final Champions League spot. Despite holding only 36% of the possession, the club from the capital were unlucky not to come away with the full points, as they were the more engaging side. Lille opened the scoring in the 5th minute with Obraniak sending home a low, hard shot. On the back foot, Hoarau was stopped by Lille GK Landreau, while a few minutes later a shot from Giuly was deflected onto the crossbar. After a shot from Tiene was denied by Landreau, PSG thought they were going into the dressing room down a goal, but Hoarau found the breakthrough in first-half stoppage-time when Nene reacted well to take a free-kick quickly before the defense was set. Unfortunately, that proved to be the goal-scorer’s final action of the match, as Hoarau received a 2nd YC almost immediately after the restart for diving to send PSG down to 10 men. Near the hour-mark Sow lashed home a cross from Debuchy for the lead, forcing their opponents to once again provide significant pressure. After a flick from Giuly hit the post, the equalizer arrived in the 73rd minute when Bodmer finished coolly while 1-on-1 with Landreau.

Rennes 0-2 Nancy -Stade Rennais came out of this match guaranteed a spot in the Europa League despite the loss, although that will be small consolation after their torrid start to the season. An early shot from Boukari was denied by Nancy GK Gregorini, while at the other end of the pitch Hadji sent his effort barely over the crossbar. The opening goal arrived in the 16th minute when a cross from Brison found Traore with eons to control and send home a shot. That turned out to be the best chance for either side in the first half, and the restart saw a shot from Feret turned away by Rennes GK Douchez. The latter then denied Hadji twice in quick succession, with both clubs settling into a more measured pace. As Rennes pushed forward they continually failed to generate shots, and Nancy were content to absorb the pressure through the midfield. The final goal came in stoppage-time, as Feret took down a pass from Sami and dribbled around Douchez.

Sochaux 2-1 Saint-Etienne – Sochaux also guaranteed themselves a Europa League spot, downing Les Verts on an excellet effort from Brown Ideye, who opened the scoring in the 4th minute on a cross from Martin with a finish from close-range. ASSE responded quickly, as a cross from Alonso was tipped out by Sochaux GK Richert to a waiting Aubameyang for the follow-up. Each side had only one other attempt on goal for the half, with Sako denied by Richert and Boudebouz hitting the crossbar. The second half started with a shot wide from Aubameyang, but Sochaux then took the lead in the 72nd minute when Ideye headed home a cross from Boudebouz. The latter’s hard work almost came to fruition with a goal of his own in stoppage-time, but the effort was punched clear by ASSE GK Moulin.

Toulouse 2-0 Bordeaux – Toulouse looked up for things, but Les Girondins did not, the latter side just looking to finish out their miserable season. The first goal arrived in the 27th minute when Cetto finished off a cross from Tabanou with a close-range finish. The first opportunity for Bordeaux saw ben Khalfallah contrive to miss a cross from Plasil, but there was not more excitement to had in the half. It didn’t take long after the restart for Toulouse to break through again, with Capoue heading home a free-kick from Didot in the 55th minute. It was all Toulouse from that point forward, with Bordeaux GK Carrasso forced into saves on Sissoko, Devaux and Cetto to finish out the match.

So, after Matchday 37 the top of the table looks like this: (1) Lille, with 73 points on a 20-13-4 record and a +31 goal differential; (2) Marseille, with 67 points on an 18-13-6 record and a +23 goal differential; (3) Lyon, with 61 points on a 16-13-8 record and a +19 goal differential; and (4) Paris Saint-Germin, with 59 points on a 15-14-8 record and a +15 goal differential.

Lens and Arles have already been relegated, but there are another 8 clubs in danger: (11) Montpellier on 47 points; (12-14) Auxerre, Brest, and Nice on 46 points; (15-17) Valenciennes, Caen, and Nancy on 45 points; and (18) Monaco on 44 points.