Ligue 1 Roundup, Matchday 29
Here is a recap of the matches that occurred during Matchday 29 of the 2023/24 Ligue 1 season over the weekend, highlighting exciting games, unexpected outcomes, and impressive player performances.
Metz 2-1 RC Lens
Georges Mikautadze’s impressive two-goal performance sparked Metz to a 2-1 comeback victory against Lens at Stade Saint-Symphorien. This win ended Metz’s three-game losing streak and brought them level on points with Lorient, who are currently in 16th place in the relegation play-off spot. Lens, on the other hand, have now gone four league matches without a win, their worst run since September. This result prevented them from overtaking Nice in the standings and they remain six points behind the top four. Haise’s team will now look to recover in their upcoming match against bottom-placed Clermont next Saturday, while Metz will face Le Havre the following day.
Strasbourg 3-1 Reims
RC Strasbourg Alsace secured only their second win in eight encounters against Reims, triumphing 3-1 at Stade de la Meinau to halt Reims’ four-game unbeaten streak and move 10 points clear of the relegation zone in Ligue 1. Reims’ loss highlights their struggle to maintain leads, having dropped the most points from winning positions in the league (19). On the other hand, Strasbourg’s fourth consecutive match without defeat alleviates any remaining relegation concerns, positioning them closer to a European qualification spot than the threat of relegation.
Rennes 1-2 Toulouse
Toulouse has extended their unbeaten streak to three games with a close 2-1 win over Stade Rennais at Roazhon Park in Ligue 1. This victory has moved Toulouse up to 11th place in the standings, just three points behind Rennes who are two spots ahead. While a European competition spot may be out of reach for Carles Martínez Novell’s team, they are now in a comfortable position away from relegation. On the other hand, Rennes’ hopes for European qualification have taken a hit, and they might miss out on a spot in any UEFA tournament for the first time since the 2017/18 season.
Le Havre 0-1 Nantes
Kader Bamba scored a late goal to help Nantes secure a crucial 1-0 victory over Le Havre at the Stade Océane, greatly improving their chances of staying in Ligue 1 for the next season. After a missed opportunity by André Ayew, Nantes capitalized on Bamba’s solo effort in the 93rd minute to claim the win. This defeat extended Le Havre’s winless streak in head-to-head matches to nine games, while Nantes managed to ease the pressure of potential relegation by moving five points clear of the bottom three with five games remaining.
Clermont 1-1 Montpellier
Clermont Foot 63 continues to struggle at the bottom of Ligue 1, remaining six points away from safety. They drew 1-1 against Montpellier at Stade Gabriel Montpied, extending their unbeaten home run against them to five matches. This result may feel like a missed opportunity for Clermont, as they have only earned four points in their last four games, making it challenging for them to avoid relegation. On the other hand, Montpellier gained another point, putting them 7 points clear of the relegation zone. Der Zakarian’s team is in good form, remaining unbeaten in their last three away matches.
Lyon 4-3 Brest
In a thrilling match at the Groupama Stadium, Lyon secured a remarkable victory over Brest with a penalty scored by Ainsley Maitland-Niles in the 106th minute. Lyon, managed by Pierre Sage, fought back from a 3-1 deficit to win 4-3, extending their unbeaten streak to six games in all competitions. The match saw both teams reduced to 10 players in the final minutes after Tagliafico and Pierre Lees-Melou were sent off following a contentious tackle.
A VAR review ultimately led to a penalty being awarded to Lyon, with Bizot fouling Lacazette, and Maitland-Niles calmly converting the spot-kick deep into stoppage time. The defeat was a heartbreak for Brest, who risk being overtaken by Monaco in the standings, while Lyon’s dramatic comeback propelled them into the top-seven positions.
