the tops
The calmness of Habib Diallo. Although he had not scored since the trip to Saint-Etienne on February 20 (2-2) and had not been based in Reims since March 6 (1-1), Habib Diallo did not hesitate when Mr. Millot gave the penalty spot after a foul by Giulian Biancone on Kevin Gameiro. If the referee had to do it twice to signal the penalty – he hadn’t warmed up, but changed his mind after watching the footage at the insistence of the VAR – the champion of Senegalese Africa didn’t need two tries. Just one was enough for him to open the scoring, his 2nd penalty (56th), then scored in Lyon on September 12, and his 10th goal of the season (the 11th even, counting his performance in the Coupe de France at Valenciennes) on Dec 16). After Ludovic Ajorque, the center striker is the 2nd Racingman to reach ten goals in Ligue 1 in 2021-2022.
Diarra’s first term in office. After coming into the game 68th minute against Lens on April 3 and in the 70th against Lyon a week later, each time in the relay of Jean-Eudes Aholou, Habib Diarra had his first Ligue 1 tenure at the stadium this Sunday. . Dawn. The young defensive midfielder, who turned 18 on January 3, was unimpressed by a dime and played clean on duty, as he had in his two appearances at La Meinau. Bruno Irles’ players also seemed to be avoiding him by going mainly through the sides, a sign that is unmistakable. Replaced in the 64th minute by Pcic, two minutes after a warning for a too muscular intervention on Kaboré. But he comes out mainly because Julien Stéphan had decided to change his whole environment, Aholou and Sissoko simultaneously relinquishing their places to Bellegarde and Thomasson respectively.
the flops
The points dropped at the end by the Alsatians. Lost four points in money-time in one week, against Lyon (1-1), then in Troyes this Sunday (1-1 too): The Blues paid cash because they didn’t know they were killing their last ‘ two games when they had the chance. And even the occasions. What to stay on their end and on their hunger. With these four points, they would just be on the third step of the Ligue 1 podium tonight, instead of Rennais, who will host them on Wednesday (9pm) who has three points left. Still, they remain on an extraordinary ten-game streak (4 wins, 6 draws).
The difficult first period of Caci against Conté. Starting his match well on the offensive level, Anthony Caci, renewed on the right wing of the Alsatian defense after his successful interim against Lyon, defending against a whirling Abdu Conté, suffered at the end (29th) and origin (37th) of the two best Aube chances of the first act. In the first, the Portuguese passed too much for his shot. On the second, Blues goalkeeper Matz Sels, embarrassed by the sun, hit the side with a vicious center shot from Chavalerin that twirled under his crossbar. But ”Titi” recovered well after the break, until he was replaced in the 78th minute by Frédéric Guilbert.
The weak turnout at the Aube stadium. While their team struggles hard to support themselves, the Trojan supporters struggle to mobilize to support it. Admittedly, the very sunny weather on this Easter Sunday was probably more conducive to idleness and family gatherings than to going to the stadium. But all the same! The thousand Strasbourg fans (826 in the car park) who made the trip had no trouble making themselves heard and even monopolizing attention in a half-empty Aube stadium (8337 spectators in total). Not always for the better, it must be said, especially in the statement of the composition of the two teams where for every first name mentioned by the stadium announcer, the players of ESTAC are decked out with the same name, as decency prevents us from revealing here.
