UpdatedAugust 14, 2022, 11:04 PM
FootballLucien Favre’s Nice still in the run-in, OM stalls
Les Aiglons conceded a second draw in a row in Ligue 1, this time against Strasbourg (1-1). In the evening, Marseille dropped two points in Brest (1-1).
Lucien Favre’s instructions have not yet infused the Nice group.
AFP
Marseille, caught up in Brest (1-1) despite the debut in Ligue 1 of its renowned rookie Alexis Sanchez, had its first setback on Sunday and will have to refine its automation. Like Nice. The Aiglons continued their timid start to the season with a draw against Strasbourg (1-1), this Sunday during the second day of Ligue 1, a week after being held in check at promoted Toulouse (1-1). If the ambitions are intact, the level, it is still waiting on the side of Nice. Before their Europa League Conference play-off on Thursday, against Maccabi Tel-Aviv, the Gym failed to take off in the league.
With the first tenure of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, Lucien Favre’s men pushed late in the game, but they failed to bend the Alsatians other than on a penalty from Andy Delort (35th), erased by a goal smart from Kevin Gameiro (55th).
Established for the second time in a row, the Vaud right-back Jordan Lotomba played almost the entire game (he was replaced in added time).
After two matches and with two points, Nice therefore stagnates in the middle of the classification. A provisional table far from significant at this stage of the season, but nevertheless evocative, because behind PSG and Lille, the last two champions, is an astonishing team from Toulouse in 3rd place. The TFC has indeed confirmed its appetite for the start of the season on the lawn of Troyes (3-0), a direct competitor in the race to maintain, complicated this year by the four descents in Ligue 2 provided for by the regulations. The Violets took advantage of an own goal from Yasser Larouci (36th), before hardening the score by Rafael Ratao (54th) then Rhys Healey (85th). For ESTAC, it’s already panic, with six goals conceded in two games.
Marseille less attractive
Less convincing than last week, Marseille suffered a first setback by conceding a 1-1 draw at Brest, with a rather discreet start for their flagship rookie Alexis Sanchez. Main animators of the inaugural victory against Reims (4-1), the two pistons Jonathan Clauss and Nuno Tavares were less in demand but they were the only effective ones, with a decisive pass from the first for the opener of the second (38th ), to which Pierre Lees-Melou responded with a sumptuous half-volley (61st).
Under a dense Breton drizzle and in a full Francis Le Blé stadium, the Marseillais had to face Brest without complex. Apart from a strike from Guendouzi narrowly deflected by goalkeeper Marco Bizot (4th), most of the chances were Brest, in particular a diving header from Jérémy Le Douaron pushed back by the left post of Ruben Blanco (34th). Less restless and more messy than against Reims, the Olympians even sometimes showed feverishness, like Arkadiusz Milik, warned in the 17th minute for an elbow and passed not far from expulsion after another blow elbow at the 42nd.
Like last week, Igor Tudor was able to count on his pistons. Served back on a corner, Jonathan Clauss delivered a long diagonal behind the defense to find Nuno Tavares at the far post (0-1, 38th). Already the second goal in two matches for the young Portuguese (22 years old).
At the start of the second period, the entry into play of Sanchez, deemed too fair to start, weighed less than that of Youcef Belaïli, author of a header which grazed the crossbar (53rd). And Brest’s efforts were rewarded when Pierre Lees-Melou, already impressive in recovery in the first period, stuck Blanco with a sumptuous recovery from a corner pushed back by the Marseille defense (1-1, 61st). Brest even had several chances to take the lead, but Le Douaron missed the target with a header (67th) then with a shot following some good work by Haris Belkebla at the entrance to the box (73rd ).
The entry of Jordan Veretout and Dimitri Payet, who once again started on the bench, did not give the Marseillais the desired boost in the last 20 minutes. And at the top, Sanchez showed some promising gestures but also waste. It was still Clauss who was the most dangerous with a shot that was not rolled enough (86th).
Stunning Clermont
The total is worse for Stade de Reims, which has dropped eight times in two matches. After Sunday’s rout at the Vélodrome against Marseille (1-4), the Rémois cracked at home against Clermont despite a two-goal lead at halftime (2-4). But the exclusion of Emmanuel Agbadou (48th) revived the Auvergnats, untenable in the second half with four goals, including a double from new scorer Komnen Andric.
A similar reversal of the situation took place in Auxerre, where the promoted player believed he was leading 3-1 against Angers, before seeing his 3rd goal disallowed by video assistance for a foul at the start of the action.. And finally, the SCO managed to snatch the draw (2-2).
The third promoted, AC Ajaccio of Kevin Spadanuda (substitute and entered in the 66th minute), also conceded a draw at home, against Lens (0-0), on a lawn damaged by drought. This drought, combined with the organization of the interceltic festival, has also caused the postponement of Lorient-Lyon, initially scheduled for 1 p.m.
(AFP)