The Parisians are not for nothing: they suffered a fifth defeat in 2023 in the league, the second consecutive after that against Rennes (0-2) before the international truce, already at the Parc des Princes. They are only six Points Ahead of their pursuers, Lens (2nd, 60 points) and Marseille (3rd, 60 pts). And the calendar promises to be full-bodied before facing Nice then Lens, precisely.

OL, ninth, wasted a penalty by Alexandre Lacazette (39th) before aiming just right by Bradley Barcola (56th), who came into play quickly to replace Amin Sarr, out through injury. The title is therefore far from won for PSG. And the fight for second place, directly qualifying for the Champions League, also promises to be hotly contested between Lens, OM and Monaco (4th, 57 pts), winner ric-rac from Strasbourg (4-3) on Sunday.

late wake up

The Principality club, trailing 2-1 at the break, stepped on the accelerator in the second half with goals from youngsters Eliesse Ben Seghir and Edan Diop (18), and French vice-world champion Youssouf Fofana, subsequently excluded. Five points behind Monaco, the fifth qualifying place for the Europa League Conference play-offs has a new owner: Lille blew Lorient (3-1) on the gong to steal the jump seat from Rennes, Beaten on Saturday by Lens.

LOSC dominated Les Hakes for a long time before being equalized in the last quarter of an hour. More enterprising, the Northerners finally won with a late double from incoming Edon Zhegrova (89th and 90th + 1).

Reims, fantastic comeback

Like the Kosovar winger, the Rémois Alexis Flips offered himself an express double (38th, 39th) in Nantes, beaten 3-0 three days before their Coupe de France semi-final against Lyon. After this “home slap”, the Canaries are only four points ahead of the first relegation player, Auxerre, but “there is no urgency”, tempered coach Antoine Kombouaré.

On the opposing bench, the situation is much more comfortable for Will Still. The Belgian (30), who arrived in mid-October when Reims was flirting with the red zone, managed to bring his team up to seventh place. The Champagne club, beaten by OM before the truce, took advantage of Nice’s new misstep, unable to beat Angers (1-1), a less threatening red lantern. “He lacked a competitive state of mind. We must remember that Ligue 1 is complicated,” commented Didier Digard after the fourth consecutive draw for the Aiglons of Nice, eighth.

Stunning Brest

In the fight to maintain, Brest overthrew Toulouse (3-1) to settle in 15th place, with a point ahead of Strasbourg (16th) and Auxerre (17th), the first club in a relegation position. AC Ajaccio, beaten 2-1 in Clermont, experienced great disappointment. In front of the break, reduced to ten in the second half, the Corsicans conceded a double from Grejohn Kyei on penalty (60th and 90th + 3).

“The scenario is cruel”, a late Olivier Pantaloni. “But I have a group that did not abstain, they will fight until the end,” promised the ACA coach, penultimate.