Trois night: 1-1
Lille fans came for all the emotions on Saturday in Troyes: the tension at the start of a crucial Europa League meeting (C3), the doubt at the end of a very timid first period, marked by the only attempts by Benjamin Andre (10th) and Andre Gomes (34th). Jubilation after the opener by Pavodi Diakite (1-0, 52), well served by Jonathan Bamba, then disappointment in the wake of an equalizer by Rony Lopez, my former darling at Stade Pierre Mauroy (1-1, 72).
In the end, Lille frustrated and broke his teeth on a compact block from Troyes (1-1). Paulo Fonseca’s players miss a goal and finish the season in fifth place, still qualifying for the play-offs of the Europa League (C4) conference.
Brest Reign: 1-2
Despite the reluctance of some supporters, Bruno Genesio called this encounter a European final. As the saying goes, the final is not played, it is won. This was done in Brest. Carried by his strong man, Benjamin Bourigaud, double author (12, 45 + 3), Rennes won in Brittany on Saturday (2-1) and stole fourth place from Lille, qualifying for the Europa League.
The Rennes are still suspicious of Brest. Despite the opening goal of Benjamin Burigaud (1-0, 13th), Brest equalized from the penalty spot, through a goalkeeper with a kiss (1-1, 36th rank). But, untouchable at the end of the season, “Bourges” replaced Rennes in fourth place in Ligue 1 (2-1, 45 + 3), thanks to a perfectly executed free kick at the entrance to the area. Rouge et Noir is back in the Europa League, to the delight of Hamari Traore, who may have played his last game in a Rennes shirt.
Monaco – Toulouse: 1-2
The injured beast did not resist the city of Toulouse on Saturday evening (1-2). In a series of three matches without a win in Ligue 1, Monaco dictated the rhythm of the meeting, without managing to imbalance the opposition mass, as it has been since the start of the season. And in the attacking transition, the players of Philip Clement received the opener (70th place). While searching for a shot from Fares Al-Shaabi, which was saved by Alexander Noble, Zakaria Abu Khalil pushed the ball into the net.
Back against the wall, Monaco came back to score through Wissam Ben Yedder (78th). But, since nothing is going well in Monaco, ghost Rhys Healy scored the winning goal after extra time (90 + 4). A symbol of a successful season in Toulouse and a devastating end to the season in the Principality.
Nice-OL: 3-1
OL was dreaming this morning of qualifying for the Europa League conference. To get there, the equation was complicated: hope to defeat Rennes in Brest, defeat Monaco against Toulouse, and make up for the nine-goal difference over Rennes (+20 for OL; +29 for Rennes). But Lyon fans didn’t even have to get their calculator out. Their Nice players collapsed (1-3) on the heels of Jerome Boateng, who was involved in Nice’s first three goals.
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OL finished outside the top five for the third time in the last four Ligue 1 seasons (7th in 2019-2020, 8th in 2021-2022 and 7th in 2022-2023). This has never happened in the previous 21 seasons.
From the fifth minute of play, he scored an own goal after an unsuitable back pass by Anthony Lopez. Then, he did not back down in front of the easy Sofiane Diop, who was repulsed by Anthony Lopez. Gaëtan Laborde followed the Portuguese well stop (28). Finally, Hicham Boudaoui’s very good center for Term Movie in the far corner (33rd) did not cut it. And Givinho saved the honor before the end of the first half, after an excellent match between two men with Ryan Shirky (41). OL still disappoints and finish the season in 7th place, ahead of Claremont (8th) and Nice (9th).
