TOPS

13 shots, 7 on target and 4 goals: Lille’s first period against Clermont on Sunday (4-0 final score) should be put in a museum. Beyond the figures and the facts, Paulo Fonseca’s players offered pleasure to their audience, between the playing directions of Angel Gomes, the self-sacrifice of Benjamin André or the panache of Edon Zhegrova, scorer on a beautiful long shot at the returning post (40th). LOSC had not scored so much in a Ligue 1 match since January 15, 2023, against Troyes (5-1). This is enough to attack spring, which will be European, with a smile.

When Teddy Teuma goes, all of Reims goes. Scattered at the break (0-3) by meticulous Toulouse, the Rémois relied on their box-to-box environment to sound the revolt. Found near the right corner of the area, Teuma dribbled to his left before a precise shot which gave Guillaume Restes no chance (49th, 1-3). In the oven and in the mill, the Maltese believed in a double with a free kick on target but deflected by Restes (58th). Reims still lost (2-3), but surely would not have experienced a crazy end to the match without Teuma.

FLOPS

On a long ball from Alexsandro, Mory Diaw deemed it appropriate to come out of his area in front of Jonathan David. The idea was good, the chest control much less. The Clermont goalkeeper offered the double on a plate to the Lille striker (38th, 3-0). Two minutes later, Edon Zhegrova hit the nail on the head with a long-range shot. Certainly, we would not have paid much for the skin of the Auvergnats even without the Diaw dumpling. “It’s a disaster, it’s catastrophic, I have nothing else to say,” Johan Gastien briefly summarized at Amazon Prime Video at half-time.

Since its victory in Lorient on November 26, Metz has only known defeat. It was the 7th in a row this Sunday against… Lorient (1-2), which thus abandoned its place of red lantern. Didier Lamkel Zé’s quick equalizer (22nd) only delayed the deadline for the Grenats who were uninspired in front of their home crowd. The lack of enthusiasm even earned whistles from Saint-Symphorien. “Wet the jersey,” chanted the supporters, annoyed by a team 16th in the standings tied on points with Lorient, 17th and first relegated. There is an emergency for the people of Lorraine who have no time to breathe: it is Marseille and its Vélodrome stadium which await them next Friday (9 p.m.).