The Sang et Or, who remained on three matches without a win, in all competitions, have revived perfectly and are putting pressure on Monaco (4th), which receives Reims at 5:05 p.m., and Marseille, the dolphin of PSG, opposed to Strasbourg at the Vélodrome in the evening (8:45 p.m.).
It is above all the performance of Openda that will be remembered. The Lensois striker single-handedly blasted the Clermont defense by scoring three goals in quick succession in the first half, the fastest hat-trick of the last 50 years in the league with that of Lille’s Matt Moussilou in 2005 against Istres.
Something to do good for the Northerners, who seemed to be struggling since their exploit against PSG at the start of the year (3-1). Considered after this success as possible candidates for the title and won over by euphoria, Franck Haise and his players logically had a hard time digesting this status. They nevertheless remain very serious candidates for the Champions League and Monegasques and Marseilles would do well to be wary of them and not to waste too many points on the way.
Nice is treading water
Undefeated in Ligue 1 since January 11, Nice is on the other hand treading water (7th) after the draw brought back from Nantes (2-2). The last French representative in the European Cup, who receives Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday in the round of 16 second leg of the Europa League Conference, may already have had his mind elsewhere. Le Gym indeed led twice before conceding a second goal just two minutes from the end of regulation time.
At the bottom of the table, Angers continues to sink. The red lantern, which already seems condemned to relegation, conceded a 21st loss against Toulouse (2-0), five days after the resignation of coach Abdel Bouhazama, in the hot seat after the revelation of sexist remarks in support of a player prosecuted for touching.
The club continues to sink into crisis and several dozen SCO supporters demonstrated in front of the stadium before the match, chanting “Leadership, resign!” and by sticking posters “Fiasco d’Angers, get out all”.