Tops

A complete match for the striker who returned this winter. Lacking playing time on the Ajax side, Georges Mikautadze found Metz in the form of a loan. The Georgian striker was valuable against Nantes. 48 balls touched, 50% of duels won but above all a goal and an assist. Shortly before the hour mark, he converted the penalty to open the score (0-1, 59th). A few seconds later, he perfectly adjusts his cross for his captain Matthieu Udol who takes care of his head (0-2, 61st).

Stade Brestois confirms its status as a great team in this 2023-2024 French championship. Second in Ligue 1 before the match, the Breton club took advantage of Nice’s misstep in Toulouse and the draw between Monaco and Paris to make the right move at the top of the ranking. A victory by the smallest of margins for Éric Roy’s players (1-0) against Le Havre. Pierre Lees-Melou is the only scorer of this meeting (36). The SB29 is now four points ahead of third-placed Monaco.

Discreet in the first period against Strasbourg, like all of the Montpellier offensive players, Arnaud Nordin allowed his team to take a point in a crazy second period against Strasbourg. The number 7 of the MHSC is first on the receiving end of a corner hit by Teji Savanier to allow his team to equalize (1-1, 71st). At the very end of the match, he once again allowed Montpellier to equalize. His left-footed shot is touched by the Strasbourg goalkeeper, but not enough. Goal line technology confirms the goal (2-2, 89th). Michel der Zakarian has found his hero of the day.

Flops

At home, the Canaries were below everything, and very quickly under water. After a few encouraging minutes, the people of Nantes continued to move backwards and made a series of inaccuracies. 42% ball possession in the first half, no shots on target. At the hour mark, Jocelyn Gourvennec’s players conceded two goals in quick succession (59th, 61st) and never recovered. Nantes is only five points ahead of Metz, its opponent of the day, first relegated.

If Brest has established itself as a great team, Le Havre may harbor regrets about its trip to Francis-Le-Blé. Dominated in the first half (39% of ball possession), Luka Elsner’s players raised their heads after the break to match their opponents (50% of possession). Very enterprising, the HAC players were also clumsy: eleven shots in total, but only two on target. Little work for Marco Bizot, who marked his return.