Ligue 1 Gameweek 34

 

Big wins for Lorient and Dijon changed the dynamic of the relegation battle, while Monaco pulled off a great victory at Lyon to move closer to the title.

 

Friday 21 April

Nancy 0-0 Marseille Venue – Stade Marcel Picot

The battle between a side hoping to retain their European status and a side struggling to hold onto their Ligue 1 status ended goalless at the Stade Marcel Picot.

Both teams struck the woodwork in the game and Nancy thought they had earned what would have been a huge three points late on, only for Maurice Dale to have his strike ruled out for offside.

Marseille remained 6^th as a result, while Nancy will see this as a positive outcome in their bid to avoid relegation, as sit one point from safety in 19^th place.

 

Saturday 22 April

Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Montpellier Venue – Parc des Princes

PSG heaped the pressure on Monaco once again as they finished the weekend level on points once more with the league leaders, beating Montpellier who slipped to 13^th.

It was a win earned by Les Parisians’ South American duo Edinson Cavani and Angel Di Maria; their eighth straight league victory.

Cavani converted from close range with less than half an hour played and Di Maria’s fine strike from distance made it two shortly after the second half restart.

Bordeaux 2-0 Bastia Venue – Nouveaux Stade de Bordeaux

Two second half goals from Bordeaux won the game against bottom club Bastia at the Nouveaux Stade de Bordeaux.

Malcom opened the scoring minutes before the hour mark before Younousse Sankhare added a second for Les Girondins in the 69^th-minute.

Bastia’s end of season run-in wasn’t made any easier when Abdel El Kaoutari was dismissed after a second bookable offence.

A vital game in hand gives Bastia hope at the bottom of Ligue 1 as they remain five points from safety, while the victory took Bordeaux into 4^th above Lyon.

Caen 0-2 Nantes Venue – Stade Michel d’Ornano

Caen’s Ligue 1 status is even more threatened following the home defeat to Nantes on Saturday.

A quick brace from Yacine Bammou in the first half silenced the home fans and there was no way back for the hosts as Les Canaris held on.

One place and one point separates Caen from the relegation zone, while Nantes revived their aim for a top half finish after climbing to 8^th in the league standings.

Dijon 3-2 Angers Venue – Stade Gaston Gérard

Dijon fended off an Angers fightback to hold onto a precious three points in the relegation battle.

The hosts knew the importance of this match and were quick out of the blocks. Lois Diony broke the deadlock after just five minutes before Pierre Lees-Melou doubled Dijon’s lead in the 16^th.

Diony scored his second of the game just before the break, but two Angers goals inside two minutes rattled the home side. Thomas Mangani converted from the spot after Famara Diedhiou drew a foul from Fouad Chafik, moments before Karl Toko Ekambi pulled another goal back.

Dijon held on and closed the gap to safety to just one point, while Angers’ fourth straight defeat left them 14^th but they should be safe with few games remaining.

 

Lille 3-0 Guingamp Venue – Stade Pierre-Mauroy

A comfortable victory for Lille ended any fears of relegation as they moved up to 12^th in the table, pulling Guingamp back down to 10^th.

An early goal from Nicolas de Preville steered Guingamp in the right direction and when Eder was brought down by Christophe Kerbrat in the box, the Frenchman doubled his and Lille’s goal tally from the spot.

The victory was sealed in the 66^th-minute and the winner of the penalty, Eder, got his name on the score sheet with Les Dogues’ third goal.

Lorient 5-1 Metz Venue – Stade du Moustoir

Another impressive display and a fourth win from five outings saw Lorient climb out of the bottom three for the first time in months after defeating Metz.

The scores were level at the break with a Michael Ciani strike and a Cheick Diabate penalty being the only goals.

But Lorient turned on the heat in the second period and blew Metz away. Majeed Waris scored Les Merlus’ second of the game before a six-minute brace from Jimmy Cabot and a Benjamin Moukandjo goal capped a fine performance and result for Lorient.

Bernard Casoni’s side moved up to 16^th but their work is far from complete, while Metz are just two points above in 15^th place.

 

Sunday 23 April

Toulouse 1-1 Nice Venue – Stadium Municipal

Nice’s title hopes look to be over as they drifted six points behind the league leaders after dropping two points at Toulouse.

Just three minutes separated the goals in the second half, as Corentin Jean gave the hosts the lead before Valentin Eysseric pulled Nice back on level terms just before the hour.

Les Aiglons sit 3^rd and will be playing against Europe’s elite next season, but Toulouse remain 11^th in the league standings.

Saint-Étienne 1-1 Rennes Venue – Stade Geoffroy-Guichard

Despite having a game in hand, Saint-Étienne are in danger of not getting a European spot this season as a number of teams are closing in after they dropped points at home to Rennes.

It was all going to plan for Les Verts when Robert Beric opened the scoring in the 40^th-minute, but Rennes were back on level terms just before half-time and no side could find the winner in the second period.

There remains just two points between Saint-Étienne in 7^th and Rennes in 9^th following this result.

Lyon 1-2 Monaco Venue – Stade des Lumieres

Monaco overcame another obstacle in the race to the Ligue 1 title as they fought off Lyon to take the top spot back from PSG.

Radamel Falcao and Kylian Mbappe carried on their form from the Champions League triumph over Borussia Dortmund with goals at the Stade des Lumieres on Sunday.

Falcao opened the scoring for Monaco in the 36^th-minute and the young prodigy Mbappe made it 2-0 just before the break.

Lucas Tousart pulled a goal back for Lyon early in the second half but Monaco held on to retake their place as league leaders, leaving Lyon 5^th.