Recap: Lille and Toulouse with wins

AS Monaco 1-1 Havre AC: Monaco unsuccessful again at home

Monaco are still searching for their first win in 2024 following 1-1 draw against Le Havre at Stade Louis II in the Ligue 1 Uber Eats early kick-off on Sunday afternoon. A match that began with a heartfelt tribute to club legend Jean Petit, it was Le Havre who started well with some early pressure, with the Monegasques responding with several chances of their own through Akliouche and Eliesse Ben Seghir in the first half.

The home side would open the scoring later in the second half after a period of dominance, Wissam Ben Yedder being fed by Monaco youth product Magnes Akliouche for the opener (63’). Despite the dominance, Luka Elsner’s Normand side hit back with an instant response. It was an unfortunate moment for Youssouf Fofana however, who diverted Opéri’s free-kick into his own net for the Le Havre equaliser (65’). Despite pressure from the Principality side, Le Havre would see out the match – points shared between the pair.

Reims 2-3 Toulouse: Les Violets win 5-goal thriller

Will Still’s Reims almost pulled-off a sensational three-goal comeback, but it was too little too late as Toulouse’s decisive first half display secured three important points away from home for Carlos Martinez Novell’s side.The away side took the lead through Mawissa Elebi’s header from close range after Reims’ goalkeeper Diouf failed to clear from within the six-yard box (12’). Les Violets would double their lead in emphatic fashion, as Shavy Babicka netted his first goal in Ligue 1 Uber Eats with a lovely curled strike past Diouf (31’). It was blow for Reims, coming just as the home side were starting to find their rhythm. Toulouse would get a third goal just before half time, this time from the penalty spot through Thijs Dallinga after Reims’ Diouf made a foul on Agbadou in the box (45’+2).

A better second half would come for Will Still’s side, as Teddy Teuma grabbed a goal back right after the resumption of play, with a superb driven strike (48’). Despite a dominant display, the home side wouldn’t get another goal back until injury time through Sergio Akieme to set up a pulsating finish at the Stade Auguste Delaune (90+1’).The Rémois laid siege to the Toulouse box in the remaining added time, with Guilluame Restes and a goal-line clearance needed to see Les Violets take the three points away from the Champagne region.

LOSC 4-0 Clermont: Lille rampant against struggling Clermont

Lille continued their push for Europe in emphatic fashion against a struggling Clermont side who dropped to last spot in the Ligue 1 table. Jonathan David continued his fine run of goal-scoring form, this time he was perfectly set up by Angel Gomes with an outside foot pass, and the Canadian drilled the ball into the top corner to open the scoring for Les Dogues (10’).  It was the home side which doubled their lead through veteran Benjamin André who met Edon Zhegovra’s precise cross with a flicked header (24’).

The Afternoon would get worse for Clermont, as Mory Diaw made a huge error to give Jonathan David a chance to finish into an open, one that the Lillois would take with glee for his second goal of the game(38’). It took only two minutes for Edon Zhegovra to find the net again for Lille, this time an unstoppable strike from outside the box (40’). Clermont had no response as Lille took the foot off the gas, but come away with a convincing win.

Metz 1-2 Lorient: First away win for Lorient lifts Les Merlus off bottom spot

Lorient came away with a vital win on the road against Metz to lift themselves off the foot of the Ligue 1 Uber Eats table. After scoring against Le Havre last weekend, Bamba started the match and made an immediate impact with a low finish to give Les Merlus the lead in the first half (19’). The home side responded instantly with a goal only minutes later, Didier Lamkel Zé slotting past Mvogo after being played in-behind by Georges Mikautadze (22’). In the second half, Lorient re-took the lead through Panos Katseris with a rebounded strike following Julian Ponceau’s effort inside the box (58’). The Breton side would see out the win for a huge three points, and their first away win this season.