While this Ligue 1 had started on Sunday with a good duel between Bordeaux and Metz (3-1)† AS Monaco, sixth, received a Trojan team (15th) who still plays maintenance for the rest of the 31st day† While the pace was quite slow at the start of the game between the two teams, Monaco picked up slowly. A good track between Aleksandr Golovin and Wissam Ben Yedder presented a good opportunity (15th). The Russian then got a well-placed free kick in the axis that Caio Henrique transformed with a roll-up attempt under the bar (1-0, 19th). Monaco kept the pressure and kept the ball under control and went into the opponent’s camp. Troyes tried to resume with a dangerous cross from Xavier Chavalerin (31st). Then a free kick by Rominigue Kouamé that ended in the wall (34th).
In the end, ESTAC managed to equalize on a good ball from Florian Tardieu for the area that Iké Ugbo took advantage of. The Canadian played with Benoît Badiashile before adapting Alexander Nübel (1-1, 39th). Surprised, Monaco tried to lift their heads but ended up back to back with the Champenois as they returned to the dressing room. Monaco struggled to control the race and Kevin Volland replaced a disappointing Myron Boadu (56th). Launched from the left, Aleksandr Golovin crossed hard to the far post where the German striker checked and chained with a powerful recuperation that lingered in the left corner (2-1, 57th). But as in the first period, Monaco pulled back after scoring their goal and it took a nice save from Caio Henrique for Iké Ugbo to save the Asemists (68th). Monaco held out in pain until the end and won 2-1. The Rockclub remains sixth, but returns to one point behind Strasbourg (4th) and Nice (5th).
Lille and Nantes missed the target
Seventh in Ligue 1, Lille moved on its side towards Angers to get closer to European places. The Scoists (14th) wanted to move further away from the red zone in the maintenance race. The locals started the game well and it was Batista Mendy who spoke first with a heavy shot by Léo Jardim for a corner (12th). Angers remained injured, but lost to injury to Mathias Pereira Lage (23rd). Lille tried from a free kick, but a header by Tiago Djalo was caught by Anthony Mandréa (31st). Angers then lost Stéphane Bahoken to injury (42nd) and Sofiane Boufal came close to scoring (44th). An interesting first act by Angers against rather shy Lille residents. In the second half, Angers kept pushing and Souleyman Doumbia on the left centered in front of the goal. Under counter pressure, Tiago Djalo struck out into its own net (1-0, 64th). As the trap on the Mastiffs looked to close, Edon Zhegrova split with a superb shot from the skylight to tie the two teams (1-1, 74th). In a rather tense end to the game, the two teams eventually parted ways in a 1-1 draw. Lille remains seventh in the standings and is three points behind Strasbourg (4th) and Nice (5th). Missed opportunity for the Mastiffs. Angers takes a six-point lead over Saint-Étienne, the jump-off.
Nice duel from the west, the match between Brest and Nantes was interesting. Twelfth, the Bretons wanted to free themselves with an almost won maintenance, while the Nantes, who were eighth, still dreamed of Europe. And this game started at a good pace with Brest having the first chance via a free kick where Paul Lasne’s deflection was countered by Dennis Appiah (4th). Nantes reacted very well as Quentin Merlin, well found on the left by Wylan Cyprien, found the foul at the nearest post for Randal Kolo Muani (1-0, 10th). Despite this goal, Brest tried to react. If the match was stopped for a few minutes (23rd) due to smoke blasts, play resumed quickly. Nantes pushed twice with a heavy shot from Wylan Cyprien that went over the frame (30th) and then a shot from Pedro Chirivella that was blocked by Marco Bizot (32nd). Brest reacted via Lilian Brassier (39th), but fell behind at halftime.
The second period was disrupted by some supporters entering the field and the game was again abandoned (51st). Finally, after another stoppage, play resumed and when Randal Kolo Muani found Andrei Girotto whose recovery set Marco Bizot to work (58th), Brest was increasingly in danger. Launched in depth, Martin Satriano played Alban Lafont and thought to equalize. The striker hired from Inter Milan was flagged for offside (60th). Stirring, the Brest striker got another dangerous opportunity (63rd). On a corner by Youcef Belaïli, a header from Steve Mounié was diverted by the goalkeeper, but Brendan Chardonnet followed well and equalized (1-1, 67th). Although tense, this end of the game saw no team gain the advantage. Nantes remains in eighth place and the European places move up. Brest continues to collect to confirm its maintenance.
The results of the afternoon
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SCO Angers 1-1 Lille OSC: Tiago Djalo (64th, CSC) for Angers; Edon Zhegrova (74th) for Lille
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Stade Brestois 29 1-1 FC Nantes: Brendan Chardonnet (67th) for Brest; Randal Kolo Muani (10th) for FC Nantes
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AS Monaco 2-1 ES Troyes AC: Caio Henrique (19th) and Kevin Volland (57th) for AS Monaco; Ike Ugbo (39th) for Troyes
