PSG slowed down at the last minute by Lille, Marseille continues its comeback

Autumn champion after the defeat of Nice this weekend, Paris Saint-Germain did not manage to celebrate this unofficial title with a victory, Sunday December 17 evening, at the end of the 16^e day of Ligue 1. Hooked by Lille (1-1), the Parisians especially missed the opportunity to widen their lead at the top of a championship where Marseille continued its comeback while pushing Clermont (2-1), and where Brest seriously settled into the role of spoilsport after its victory in Nantes (2-0).

Luis Enrique’s unsuccessful attempts

Already assured of ending the year at the top of the championship, PSG’s Spanish coach, Luis Enrique, once again tested new things on Sunday in Lille, sometimes asking his players to play with three defenders, sometimes with four with Warren Zaire-Emery landing at right back. At kick-off, he decided to do without Achraf Hakimi and Milan Skriniar, preferring Danilo in defense and four midfielders.

These tactical experiments did not really bear fruit throughout a generally boring match, in a packed Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Finally, it was Kylian Mbappé again who broke the deadlock in the match. The Parisian striker seemed grumpy, as he had been midweek in Dortmund, where he exposed his frustration at seeing his teammates try to maintain the draw to ensure their qualification for the round of 16 of the Champions League, rather than attacking to win.

Mbappé converted, with complete control, a penalty (1-0, 66^e) caused by Lucas Hernandez, mowed down by Bafodé Diakité. But Paris lacked control, and paid for it at the end of the match, when Lille went on the attack. Came into play at 82^e minute, defeated by Tenas during their first duel (90 +2), the Canadian Jonathan David confirmed his return to form by beating Donnarumma’s replacement, suspended, on his second attempt (1-1, 90 +4) , forcing the Parisians to a draw. With 37 points, the latter are 5 units ahead of Nice, beaten on Saturday in Le Havre (3-1), and 7 over Monaco, surprised on Friday by Lyon (1-0).

“We played a very complete match for 80 minutes and in the last ten minutes we lost control a little”regretted the Parisian coach.

LOSC confirmed that they were one of the best French teams of the moment by standing up to the leader. Fourth (27 points), the northern club extended its series of matches without defeat in the league to ten.

Marseille trembles but resists

At the Vélodrome, Olympique de Marseille did not fail against the red lantern from Clermont, but it showed two very different faces. First ultra-dominators and authors of an almost perfect first period with a goal from Amir Murillo (1-0, 26^e) then Amine Harit’s first goal this season (2-0, 42^e), the Marseillais completely died out during the second act and suffered until the end.

First, Clermont landed a little higher on the pitch and gradually grew bolder, with a few strikes without much danger. Then at 58^e minute, the Auvergnats made OM bend via a header from Jim Allevinah from a corner (2-1), for the first goal conceded by Marseille in L1 at the Vélodrome since August 12. Behind, Gattuso’s men trembled but they remained solid enough to keep their precious goal ahead and move up to sixth place in the standings with 26 points.

“In the second half we suffered, but we have an excuse, said Marseille coach Gennaro Gattuso. Thursday after Brighton [en Ligue Europa]we went to bed at 5:30 a.m. The team slept at the Commanderie [le centre d’entraînement de l’OM] and when you lose so much energy, especially after a hard blow like the one suffered at Brighton [défaite 1-0], this kind of thing can happen. »

Brest on its way

Thanks to goals from Hugo Magnetti (49^e) and Steve Mounié (57^e) and several saves from its goalkeeper Marco Bizot against Nantes, Brest signed a fourth success (2-0) in five days. The Bretons could secure their place in the top 5 mid-championship by beating Lorient on Wednesday for 17^e daytime.

In Nantes (11^e with 18 points), the figures are less positive, with one victory − against Nice − in five matches. The Jocelyn Gourvennec effect already seems to be fading for his third match on the Canaries bench. Before the meeting, a tribute was paid to Maxime, the 31-year-old supporter of the Loire Brigade who was fatally stabbed on the sidelines of the match against Nice on December 2, on the eve of a meeting on violence in football at the Ministry of Sports. .

Lorient relegated

The match between Rennes (13^e) and Toulouse (15^e), both qualified for the Europa League play-offs this week but who are having a sluggish season in Ligue 1, resulted in a scoreless draw, with both clubs visibly tired of Europe. The players can thank their goalkeeper: first the Rennais after a very good save from Steve Mandanda (77^e). Guillaume Restes, the Toulouse goalkeeper, responded at the end of the match by also saving his teammates (90+3).

In Lorient (17^e just behind Lyon), where the fog almost caused the meeting to be postponed, it is still just as gray. The Bretons were beaten (2-1) by Strasbourg (9^e) thanks in particular to a superb goal from former Lorient player Kevin Gameiro (48^e): a pure strike following a nice delivery from the chest of Emanuel Emegha. The hakes are found 17^e and relegated with 12 points, one more than Clermont and one less than Lyon.

There was also fog in Metz (14^e16 pts) where the Saint-Symphorien stadium was covered in thick clouds during the second half: Montpellier, 14 points before the match, had a great operation there (1-0) by moving away from the relegation zone , 12^eand slowly moving up the rankings before welcoming Marseille on Wednesday for the last day before the winter break.