Ligue 1 Roundup, Matchday 18
Matchday 18 of the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season has just wrapped up, featuring exciting matches and impressive performances. Here is the Ligue 1 Roundup from this round of games.
Montpellier 2-1 Monaco
Bottom-ranked Montpellier staged a comeback to defeat Monaco at Stade de la Mosson, thanks to a late double from Mousa Al-Taamari that secured all three points for La Paillade. This victory ended Montpellier’s seven-match winless run across all competitions. Meanwhile, Monaco continues to struggle, remaining without a win since their victory over Toulouse in early December. Montpellier’s win marks their first league victory in over two months and only their third win of the season.
Lille 2-1 OGC Nice
Lille’s quest for a UEFA Champions League spot in Ligue 1 progressed as they rallied to secure a 2-1 victory over OGC Nice, marking their third comeback win in the league this season and moving them ahead of Nice into fourth place. Nice’s five-match unbeaten streak was abruptly halted, while Lille triumphed over Nice for the first time in their last six encounters.
RC Lens 1-2 PSG
Paris Saint-Germain, the league leaders, faced a challenge in their 2-1 win over RC Lens, having to rally from behind to maintain their unbeaten record in Ligue 1 at Stade Bollaert-Delelis. Will Still’s team experienced another loss against a top-half opponent, with the close defeat leaving them just outside the last European qualification spot currently occupied by Lyon.
Rennes 1-2 Brest
Goals from Hugo Magnetti and Ludovic Blas propelled Brest to their second away win in Ligue 1 this season, as they triumphed 2-1 over struggling local rivals Rennes at Roazhon Park. This rare away victory allows Brest to climb into the top half of the table and narrow the gap to sixth-place Lyon to just 4 points. Meanwhile, Rennes finds themselves in a precarious position, facing the threat of relegation from Ligue 1 for the first time in the club’s history after suffering 11 losses in 18 matches.
Lyon 0-0 Toulouse
Lyon managed only three shots on target in a goalless Ligue 1 match against Toulouse at home, marking a continuation of their disappointing start to 2025. Currently, Lyon sits in the UEFA Conference League spots, but for a club with a prestigious history in French football, qualifying for European competitions is the least expected outcome for the seven-time Ligue 1 champions.
St Etienne 1-1 Nantes
Nantes missed out on crucial three points when Augustine Boakye’s late goal resulted in a 1-1 draw for Saint-Étienne at the Stade Geoffrey-Guichard, prolonging the Canaries’ winless streak away from home in Ligue 1 to eight games this season. Despite the late equalizer, Nantes still sit above Saint-Étienne, but only by goal difference.
Reims 1-1 Le Havre
Le Havre managed to secure an unexpected point at Stade Auguste-Delaune, drawing 1-1 with Reims and putting an end to their troubling streak of five consecutive Ligue 1 losses. Although this result didn’t provide Le Havre with the win they needed to close the gap to two points from safety in the Ligue 1 standings, their defensive performance indicated that they could genuinely compete in what is becoming a fierce relegation battle. Reims, on the other hand, could find themselves in a similar struggle if they don’t improve soon.
Angers 2-0 Auxerre
Angers secured their fifth consecutive victory across all competitions, drawing even on points with Auxerre, who are in 12th place, after achieving a 2-0 win at home. This marked Angers’ first win in seven encounters against Auxerre. Winning at home against Auxerre for the first time since 2013 is a significant morale boost for Angers, especially as it creates a five-point cushion between them and the relegation zone.
Marseille 1-1 Strasbourg
Marseille and Strasbourg played a draw in an exciting Ligue 1 match at the Stade Vélodrome, where Mason Greenwood’s penalty in the second half helped Marseille maintain their strong head-to-head record, suffering only one loss in their last 19 league encounters. The game ended in a stalemate, costing De Zerbi’s team crucial points in the title chase. Meanwhile, Le Racing has now gone seven matches without a loss in all competitions.