Ligue 1 Roundup, Matchday 28
Here is a summary of the games that took place during Matchday 28 of the 2023/24 Ligue 1 season over the weekend, showcasing thrilling matches, surprising results, and standout player displays.
Lille 3-1 Marseille
Lille, who are aiming to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, maintained their unbeaten streak at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Ligue 1 with a 3-1 win over Olympique de Marseille. This victory also extends their unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions. The team will now shift their focus to the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final against Aston Villa. On the other hand, Marseille’s struggles persist as they are currently 10 points behind the final Champions League qualification spot.
RC Lens 1-1 Le Havre
Le Havre managed to come back from a goal down to secure a 1-1 draw against RC Lens, slightly widening their lead over the Ligue 1 relegation zone by 2 points. On the other hand, Lens suffered a setback in their quest for a top-four spot, as they failed to win for the third consecutive game. Despite Lens’ efforts to score a late goal, Le Havre’s strong defensive display repeatedly thwarted their attempts, resulting in a draw. This outcome hinders Lens’ chances of qualifying for European competitions. Meanwhile, Le Havre will be pleased to end a streak of three away losses as they head back home.
PSG 1-1 Clermont
Paris Saint-Germain managed to secure a late equalizer to prevent only their second loss in Ligue 1 this season. The 1-1 draw against bottom-placed Clermont Foot extended PSG’s winless streak at the Parc des Princes to three matches. Despite facing continuous pressure from PSG, Clermont held on for a commendable point, although they are still seven points away from safety. On the other hand, PSG is now 10 points ahead at the top of the table, edging closer to yet another Ligue 1 title.
Brest 4-3 FC Metz
Despite facing an early setback and a late comeback attempt, Brest, who are aiming for a spot in the Champions League, managed to secure a 4-3 victory over Metz, who are fighting against relegation. This win extended Brest’s unbeaten streak to nine matches at Stade Francis-Le Blé. Although Metz tried to mount a comeback, they were unable to do so, resulting in their winless streak extending to four matches. Eric Roy’s team remains on track for their highest league finish in club history by maintaining their position in second place.
Toulouse 0-0 Strasbourg
Both Toulouse and Strasbourg extended their lead over the Ligue 1 relegation zone by seven points following a dull 0-0 draw at Stadium TFC. This match marked the end of the visitors’ streak of scoring in 13 consecutive head-to-head meetings. Towards the end of the game, both teams seemed more focused on preventing a loss rather than pushing for a win, resulting in a lackluster goalless draw. Despite both teams having 33 points each, Toulouse have only managed to win one of their last four league matches.
Reims 0-0 OGC Nice
Stade de Reims have not won a head-to-head match against Nice at the Stade Auguste Delaune since December 2013, as they played to a goalless draw against OGC Nice in the weekend’s Ligue 1 match. This outcome is below expectations for both teams, but Nice can still move ahead of RC Lens in the Europa League qualification spot. On the other hand, Reims have moved slightly ahead of Marseille into the top-seven positions.
Montpellier 2-0 Lorient
Montpellier Hérault SC improved their chances of avoiding relegation by defeating Lorient 2-0 at the Stade de Mosson. This win, their third at home this season, was crucial as it moved them six points clear of Lorient, who are currently in the relegation playoff spot in 16th place, just two points above the safety zone.
AS Monaco 1-0 Rennes
Monaco continued their pursuit to be the top team behind dominant leaders PSG by defeating Rennes 1-0 in a tense match that saw both teams reduced to 10 players. This victory marked Monaco’s 52nd win against Rennes in top-flight matches, a record unmatched against any other opponent. Despite a nervy eight minutes of stoppage time, Monaco secured their first home win since early December, giving their Champions League qualification hopes a significant boost. While the loss isn’t disastrous for Rennes, they now find themselves falling behind in the European race, especially after a three-game goalless streak.
Nantes 1-3 Lyon
Lyon secured their sixth straight win on the road in all competitions by coming back from a goal down to defeat Nantes 3-1 at the Stade de la Beaujoire. Nantes, on the other hand, suffered their eighth consecutive home loss in all competitions, putting them just two points ahead of Lorient in the relegation play-off spot. Lyon, meanwhile, maintained their hopes of qualifying for Europe through the league and closed the gap to sixth-placed Lens to just five points.
