Lyon “goes wild” in Nice, Lens holds its place as runner-up

Incomprehensible for the loser, exhilarating for the winner, the Nice-Lyon match (3-2), Saturday 23 October, was a great advertisement to sell Ligue 1, in China or other country. Like defender Léo Dubois, Lyon are still wondering how they could have lost the game despite a two-goal lead ten minutes from time. Sunday afternoon, Lens took place against Metz (4-1) and made it easy on the second step of the podium, away from Paris-Saint-Germain, still first.

• “Remontada” à la niçoise

The voice is to the vanquished. Disappointed, angry and even bitter, the Lyonese Léo Dubois lets go, Saturday evening, at the microphone of Amazon Prime. “Honestly, today in the first half, we are ten times better than them, we have the control of the match and we go crazy, we break completely, I do not understand”, loose the international defender of Olympique Lyonnais.

But why so many “seum”? No doubt because Dubois and his partners saw themselves leaving Nice this Sunday, October 24 with three points after a controlled score and two goals from Karl Toko Ekambi (35^e) and Houssem Aour (68^e). And then a man got off the bench and changed everything. Her name ? Youcef Atal. Back at his best after a serious injury, the Algerian cleaned the skylight of Anthony Lopes (81^e), caused the penalty converted by Andy Delort and initiated the action of the winning goal scored by Evann Guessand (90 + 3).

Caught up in the madness of the end of the match, Christophe Galtier finished with arms crossed on the lawn of the Allianz Riviera. The coach of OGC Nice can savor this reaction of pride, his team temporarily settles on the podium while waiting for the match of Marseille against Paris-Saint-Germain, this Sunday at 9 p.m.

• Lens jubilant, Wesley Saïd lives again

For the nostalgic, the poster recalled this famous crossover for the title of champion in 1998. At the time, RC Lens had ended up ahead of Metz by one head. and a strike from the left by Yoann Lachor. The title, the Lensois do not think about it yet by shaving, but the Sang et Or confirm their breathtaking form with a 4-1 victory, Sunday, in front of their audience of Bollaert. Lens proves that he is not a runner-up for PSG, with 21 points in eleven days.

A player symbolizes this recklessness: Wesley Saïd. Double author (15^e and 37^e), the attacker made his opportunism speak. At the start of the season, many people did not believe in this eternal hope of French football.

Wesley Saïd (left) celebrates his goal with his RC Lens teammate Jonathan Clauss against FC Metz on October 24, 2021 in Lens.

In Toulouse, Saïd was lost for two years, unable to take on one of the biggest transfers in the club’s history (six million euros), not always involved and weighed down by a rupture of a cruciate ligament at the summer 2020. Released from his (big) contract by the Violets, the 26-year-old comes back to life in Lens to the image of his decisive goal in Marseille during the 8^e day (2-3).

But it’s a whole team that is carried by a sweet euphoria. Despite the equalizer of Nicolas de Préville (33^e), Franck Haise’s players unfolded their offensive play and even increased their lead at the end of the match with achievements from Ganago and Frankowski.

And besides

• Rennes is the hit of this early fall. Between a set of tennis inflicted on Clermont (6-0) and the scalp of PSG (2-0), the Bretons are surfing on confidence. And when they are less inspired, Bruno Genesio’s men have the merit of being solid. A header from defender Nayef Aguerd (82^e) and a decisive save by Alfred Gomis in stoppage time allowed the Bretons to win 1-0 at home against Strasbourg.
• In this regional derby, it is Troyes which can lead to Champagne. Led very quickly to the score by Reims after a realization of Yunis Abdelhamid, the promoted responded with goals from Mama Baldé and Xavier Chavalerin. Used to commuting between L1 and L2 over the past ten years, Troyes distances itself from the red zone.
• Dominator this Sunday, Lorient must be content with one point against Bordeaux who still do not take off from the depths of the standings (17^e). Les Merlus responded by Julien Laporte (76^e) head to goal by Honduran Alberth Elis (46^e).
• The reigning champion is standing still. Despite an opening marvel of Jonathan David’s score (19^e), Lille conceded the draw at home against Brest on Saturday, 18^e of Ligue 1 and in small form in recent weeks. The fault of a deflected free kick from Romain Faivre (32^e) and an uninspired attack in the image of the Turkish Burak Yilmaz. LOSC gets stuck in the soft underbelly of the championship.
• At a press conference this week, Antoine Kombouaré asked his players “Confirmation” after the draw brought back from Bordeaux (1-1) and the victory in Troyes (2-0). The Nantes coach was heard, his players winning 2-1 against Clermont on Saturday, thanks to goals from Andrei Girotto and Ludovic Blas. The Canaries settle in the first part of the ranking.
• Friday, Saint-Etienne and Angers were neutralized (2-2) in a match delayed by incidents caused by supporters of Saint-Etienne.