Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) remained in the wheel of leader Lille by winning 4-1 in Strasbourg, Saturday April 10, and Marseille cracked in the last seconds in Montpellier (3-3) in a completely crazy meeting , concluded in numerical inferiority.
Paris does not let go of Lille
Between two Champions League rounds against Bayern, Paris Saint-Germain has not forgotten the fundamentals against Strasbourg at the Meinau stadium and is approaching three points from the leader, Lille, after the 32e Ligue 1 day. The Parisians, although deprived of Neymar (suspended), Marquinhos (injured) and Marco Verratti (positive for Covid-19), spent an afternoon as pleasant as a walk in the picturesque district of Petite France.
Kylian Mbappé (16e), Pablo Sarabia (27e) and Moise Kean (45e) killed the game in the first half. With three goals in as many strikes on target in the first forty-five minutes, PSG showed the same efficiency as at the Allianz Arena. Subsequently, Leandro Paredes, with a superb free kick (79e), responded to the reduction in score due to the young Moïse Sahi (65e).
The only cloud of the day was the exit of goalkeeper Keylor Navas, replaced at half-time “As a precaution”. “I hope there is nothing serious”, said PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino. By not wanting to take any risks, the Argentine technician has already prepared the return leg against Bayern, which will take place on Tuesday. His Bavarian counterpart, Hansi Flick, for his part had the same attitude vis-à-vis striker Kingsley Coman, who hit a knee against Union Berlin at the same time.
The “Rekordmeister” will have conceded at the end of the game the draw (1-1), when the PSG for its part ensured. But, unlike the Bavarian club, Paris is still far from having locked the championship. The reigning champion is currently the runner-up of Lille, whose success in Metz on Friday (2-0) allows him to keep three points ahead.
The Parisians still have to go on Sunday against Saint-Etienne while hoping for a misstep from Losc (which receives Montpellier on Friday), if they want to become masters of their destiny again.
Montpellier snatches the draw at OM
Olympique de Marseille (OM), however reduced to ten per hour of play, almost beat Montpellier but was joined in the last seconds (3-3) on Saturday night. In terms of accounting, the Marseillais remain sixth but they climb back up to Lens, holder of fifth place thanks to the particular difference, before receiving Lorient on Sunday at Bollaërt.
Under the Hérault rain, the Olympians broke down after only 27 seconds of play, time for Andy Delort to leave behind the defense and deceive with a lob Steve Mandanda who came to meet him (1re, 1-0). It is the fastest goal scored this season.
After this precocious quack, OM got back in the direction of travel before the break through its Polish center forward Arkadiusz Milik (43e), his fifth goal in ten games in all competitions, and his midfielder Pape Gueye (45e+2), author of the second goal of his career in Ligue 1.
The second period delivered a fairly similar scenario: equalization of Gaëtan Laborde (47e, 2-2) on the restart, then a header for Lucas Perrin (71e, 2-3), entered after the expulsion of central defender Duje Caleta-Car on the hour mark. Captain Mandanda, decisive several times in the second half, released a miraculous save on his line in added time (90e+1), before bowing to a new achievement from Laborde (90e+3).
With three points behind OM and Lens, Montpellier remains in the race for fifth place, synonymous at the end of the qualifying season in the Europa Conference Conference, a new European competition, even in the Europa League.