Ligue 1 Roundup, Matchday 25
Here is a recap of the matches played over the weekend in the 2023/24 Ligue 1 season on Matchday 25, featuring exciting games, unexpected outcomes, and impressive player performances.
OGC Nice 1-2 Montpellier
Nice, who have been on a downward spiral, drop to sixth in the Ligue 1 standings this weekend following their 2-1 loss to Montpellier. Montpellier’s recent success, with seven points in their last four games, has helped them move out of the relegation zone. This victory also makes them only the second team to win an away game against Nice in Ligue 1 since May.
Lorient 0-2 Lyon
Lyon extended their lead over the Ligue 1 relegation zone to six points by defeating Lorient 2-0. This victory is part of Lyon’s impressive turnaround, as they have now won seven out of their last eight matches. Lorient, on the other hand, are struggling to stay above the drop zone, having only earned one point in their last eight home games. This match also broke the trend of previous encounters, as it was only the second out of nine to end with at least one team failing to score.
RC Lens 1-0 Brest
Ruben Aguilar’s header was the deciding factor in RC Lens’ 1-0 victory over Stade Brestois 29 in Ligue 1. This win placed Lens in fifth position in the league, marking their second victory in their last six home matches. The victory also halted Brest’s 13-game unbeaten streak in the league, despite them maintaining their second-place position.
PSG 2-2 Reims
Luis Enrique’s challenging tenure as Paris Saint-Germain manager persisted as the team secured their third successive Ligue 1 draw. Stade de Reims managed to avoid defeat in consecutive away matches against the record champions for the first time in their history. Despite PSG’s lead in the Ligue 1 standings, it would require a significant decline for them not to clinch the league title. However, Enrique is worried about his team’s struggle to finish matches, especially with an important UEFA Champions League quarter-final approaching.
Strasbourg 0-1 AS Monaco
AS Monaco’s 19-year-old Eliesse Ben Seghir scored the winning goal in their 1-0 victory over RC Strasbourg Alsace, marking their third consecutive away win for the first time since October 2022. Despite not scoring as many goals as they have in recent away matches, Monaco’s pursuit of returning to European competition after a year out seems promising with their fifth win in their last six away games. Strasbourg, on the other hand, are still searching for their first Ligue 1 win of 2024.
Metz 1-0 Clermont Foot
Metz significantly improved their chances of staying in Ligue 1 by beating Clermont Foot 1-0 at the Stade Saint-Symphorien. This victory ended a streak of five consecutive home losses for Metz. The win brought them closer to 16th-placed Nantes by just two points. On the other hand, Clermont remains at the bottom of the Ligue 1 table, now trailing safety by a significant eight points.
Le Havre 1-0 Toulouse
Toulouse’s hopes of securing a fourth consecutive away win in Ligue 1 were dashed by Le Havre, who claimed a well-deserved 1-0 victory at the Stade Océane. Le Havre managed to secure three crucial points, breaking a four-game losing streak and moving up to 12th place in the standings. They are now two points above the relegation zone and just two points behind Toulouse, who are currently in 11th place.
Lille 2-2 Rennes
Rennes missed an opportunity to narrow the gap on the European spots in Ligue 1 after squandering a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Lille. This result extended their streak of only one win in 37 top-flight away matches against Lille. Lille managed to score a late equalizer in stoppage time, with David scoring from close range after a chaotic sequence in the penalty box. This point could be crucial for Lille’s pursuit of a top-three finish. On the other hand, it was a devastating setback for Rennes, who had kept their opponents at bay for most of the match but failed to capitalize on their chances to enhance their own European ambitions.
Marseille 2-0 Nantes
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had another impressive performance, scoring twice to help Olympique de Marseille secure a 2-0 victory over Nantes. This marked his fifth consecutive game with a goal, a feat he last achieved in September 2019. Marseille is now on a three-game winning streak in Ligue 1 as they aim for a spot in the UEFA Champions League. On the other hand, Nantes has dropped into the relegation zone, raising concerns about their potential relegation to the second division for the first time since 2012/13. Meanwhile, Jean-Louis Gasset has led Marseille to five wins in five games since taking charge at Stade Vélodrome.
