Monaco consolidated its position on the podium, as Lens did for fifth place in Europe, Sunday April 11, during a 32nd day of Ligue 1 full of “Sadness” for Nantes, the penultimate 1-0 defeat in Rennes.
Monaco sinks Dijon and consolidates its 3rd place in Ligue 1
After Lille, Friday, and Paris, Saturday, Monaco won in turn, easily beating Dijon at home (3-0). Faced with the red lantern, the Monegasques dominated the meeting, especially in the second period.
The entry of Cesc Fabregas and Wissam Ben Yedder on the restart gave a boost to the Principality’s players, who opened the scoring in the 49e minute thanks to Stevan Jovetic. The Montenegrin took over a penalty kicked back from Wissam Ben Yedder. As if to recover, the French international then scored a double with an offering from Golovin (63e) and a revenge from the penalty spot (90e).
Thanks to this victory, Monaco returned to four points from Lille and one from Paris and took four points ahead of Lyon before the OL match this Sunday evening.
Rennes defeats Nantes
For Nantes Canaries, the 14e the defeat of the season in the league, conceded in addition to the Breton rival, hurts. Six days from the end, the team led by Antoine Kombouaré remains in the red zone. “There is disappointment, frustration, sadness”, said the Nantes coach, appointed two months ago to save the yellow and green house.
“We lacked enthusiasm, offensive going, perhaps courage too”, admitted Kombouaré, repeating that Nantes would fight to the end, via the dams if necessary, to stay in Ligue 1. Bruno Genesio, Stade Rennes FC coach, expects no less: “We were there to win the derby, not to push Nantes, because I think French football needs to have clubs like that in Ligue 1. If we want to know other derbies, they have to stay in Ligue 1. “
Without ideas or great ambitions, the Nantes residents turned their backs against Rennes, still in the race for European places. But they fell in love with a dazzling Martin Terrier, author of a superb coiled strike (53e).
The end of the championship promises to be heavy for the club of Waldemar Kita, owner hated by the ultras, who will have to fight until the end not to descend into a second division left in 2013. In a week, Nantes will receive Lyon.
Bordeaux crushed by Saint-Etienne
The air becomes, however, lighter on the side of Saint-Etienne who, at home, removed the specter of relegation, slapping 4-1 a Bordeaux team in full collapse. In a match punctuated by three penalties (two for the locals, one for Bordeaux), the Greens brought down the Girondins with in particular a hat-trick from Tunisian striker Wahbi Khazri.
Claude Puel’s men move to the 13e place with nine points ahead of the current barrage, Nîmes, who brought one point from his trip to Brest (1-1).
Lens confirms its 5e place facing Lorient
At the top of the table, Lens confirmed its 5e a place synonymous with a ticket for the new Europa League Conference, or even for the Europa League itself. The promoted Artesian has three points ahead of OM, braked Saturday in Montpellier (3-3), and four more than Rennes.
Facing 17e Lorient, the Sang et Or did not tremble under the impetus of Corentin Jean, at the origin of a penalty converted by Gaël Kakuta (his 10e goal in the league this season), then scorer for the 2-1. After the break, Lensois Arnaud Kalimuendo and Simon Banza aggravated the mark, leaving Lorient with a bitter failure (4-1).