Lille won against Marseille (1-0) to catch up with their evening opponent in Ligue 1 and offer themselves this series of successes that they had been waiting for so much since the start of the season, Friday December 5, during the 15e championship day. At the same time, Monaco lost in Brest (0-1).
Apparently, the Lille victory changes nothing in the ranking since LOSC is still fourth and Olympique de Marseille (OM) one rank above, but in reality it allows the northern club, with 29 points, as many as OM, to close the gap which separated it from one of its opponents in the race for European tickets.
It also marks the realization of one of coach Bruno Genesio’s dearest wishes: to achieve a series of victories, finally. In this case four after those against Paris FC (4-2), Dinamo Zagreb (4-0) – in the Europa League – and Le Havre (1-0) on the weekend of November 29 and 30. Conversely, it is a setback for the Marseille club, already slowed down against Toulouse (2-2), which gives Lens (1is) and Paris Saint-Germain (2e) the possibility of creating a gap during the rest of this fifteenth day.
Ethan Mbappé, the revelation of the match
This match, generally dull, was finally played during the first clear opportunity, when Lille’s Ethan Mbappé, launched in depth by Nabil Bentaleb, took advantage of an uninspired exit from Géronimo Rulli to open the scoring (10e). Kylian Mbappé’s little brother confirmed his ability to be decisive with few opportunities. If he was more discreet afterwards, he also showed a nice burst of speed by overtaking Nayef Aguerd (45ᵉ + 1). It is now up to him to no longer let injuries hinder his rise to the highest level.
In the wake of the opening score, the Northerners continued their domination, obtaining another opportunity through Romain Perraud after a nice three-way move with Hakon Haraldsson and Hamza Igamane (13th). Then Marseille increased their intensity in midfield, hindering the construction of Lille’s game, without creating any scoring opportunities. In the first period, Roberto De Zerbi’s players had to wait until the 45th minute to attempt their first strike, by Emerson, after an overflow from Timothy Weah.
It wasn’t any better until the last quarter of an hour, where the Marseillais had two chances to equalize, but Berke Özer first made a superb save to stop a fantastic ride from Mason Greenwood (76th), then another to deflect a shot from Geoffrey Kondogbia (78th). OM missed their chance, weighed down by a disappointing performance from Igor Paixao, and it was then Lille who had opportunities to drive the point home, without succeeding.
No matter, the Mastiffs got what they wanted. This match also showed, for around twenty minutes, what the Lille attack could be with Hamza Igamane rather than with Olivier Giroud: a more direct game, with more through balls – including one which led to the goal – and one-on-one situations which correspond to the Lille wisps. But the Moroccan striker injured himself, apparently to an adductor, and had to give up his place (26th) to the top scorer in the history of the France team (57 goals in 137 caps).
Among Lille’s satisfactions of the evening, the great performance, once again, of the young central defender Nathan Ngoy (22 years old), who found his best level after several complicated weeks, and embodies the present and future of the Dogues, just like Ayyoub Bouaddi, whose extension until 2029 was announced before the kick-off.
Monaco beaten in Brest
At the same time, Monaco, with numerical superiority at the hour mark, lost to Brest (0-1). After having already fallen in Lorient (1-3) and Rennes (1-4), the Monegasques are traveling poorly in Brittany where they have suffered half of their six defeats to date. With 23 points, the ASM, provisionally 7ᵉ, is still not in the European wagon. Brest, on the contrary, had a third success in a row and temporarily climbed into the first half of the ranking, 9th with 19 units.
In the Francis-Le-Blé stadium which vibrated at the end of the match as in the finest hours of the last two dream seasons, Eric Roy’s men did not tremble much against an opponent who was decidedly tough in front of goal. The banner “Fight!” Defeat them! » of the Monegasque parking lot has remained a dead letter. The lack of offensive realism of the Monegasques was embodied by Mika Biereth, holder at the forefront, but still far from the terror of the surfaces of the return phase of last season.
Between a shot that was too soft (15th), another that was too cross (38th), an opening from Aleksandr Golovin a bit too long when he went alone on goal (35th), the Dane was restless and weighed down, but without a big chance in the first period. Even in the role of passer, he was unhappy. Starting on the right, he applied for a cross towards Takumi Minamino which was deflected with great skill and touch by Brendan Chardonnet two meters from his goals, while he was rushing towards his goal line (55ᵉ). In his defense, his teammates were not much more in spirit, Golovin directing a header straight at Grégoire Coudert (34th) and Minamino also missing the target (39th).
Even more worrying, Sébastien Pocognoli’s men were unable to take advantage of the expulsion of Ludovic Ajorque for a very late tackle on Lamine Camara, after referee Thomas Léonard went to see the images on the edge of the field, in the 60th minute. Even if the pressure on the Finistériens’ goal increased a notch or two, it largely remained sterile, even after the entry of Paul Pogba around ten minutes later.
Conversely, Brest achieved the match that they undoubtedly had in mind: determined, generous, clever and above all realistic. Rémy Labeau Lascary certainly missed a face-off in front of Lukas Hradecky (20th), who was also almost trapped by an involuntary cross-shot from Kenny Lala (26th). But the third opportunity was the good one with Ajorque who recovered the ball in the area after a touch to send a pivotal shot which the Finnish goalkeeper could only push back in front of him where a Kamory Doumbia was trailing strangely alone to finish with a header (1-0, 28th).
A monumental strike from Daouda Guindo, from almost 30 meters on a free kick, which ricocheted off the top of the crossbar (54th) and a diving header from Mama Baldé just wide (90th + 2) were even the clearest actions of the second half. Enough to go with complete confidence to Rennes, the weekend of December 13 and 14, for a derby which promises to be tough.