Ligue 1 Sunday Recap

Montpellier HSC 0-0 LOSC Lille

Montpellier HSC and Lille LOSC started the day by playing a hard-fought 0-0 draw. The match took a turn in the 47th minute of the first half when Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi received a red card, becoming the youngest player to do so in Ligue 1 over the last 30 years at the age of 16 years and 118 days. His performance, not only as the youngest player to start a Ligue 1 game but also as the third player born in 2007 or later to feature in one of the top 5 European leagues, showcased a promising future for the talented midfielder.

With the result, Lille find themselves fifth in the table with 32 points, while Montpellier sit 12th place with 19 points. Montpellier are struggling for form, having won just one of their last ten Ligue 1 matches and failing to find the net in six of them. 

Stade de Reims 0-0 FC Nantes 

Stade de Reims and FC Nantes also played out a goalless draw, leaving both teams with a point each after 90 minutes of football. The match witnessed resilient defensive displays from both sides, resulting in a deadlock. Stade de Reims now finds themselves sixth with 30 points, while FC Nantes are 13th spot with 19 points. 

Clermont Foot 1-1 RC Strasbourg 

Clermont Foot 63 and RC Strasbourg Alsace settled for a 1-1 draw. The scoring opened in the 34th minute when Moïse Sahi Dion found the back of the net for Strasbourg. Clermont responded in the 52nd minute as Shamar Nicholson continued his impressive form, scoring for the third consecutive game. Despite their best efforts, Clermont struggled to secure a victory at home, and have now won just one of their ten Ligue 1 home games this season. Strasbourg’s unbeaten streak now has reached six games in the league, representing their longest run without a defeat since February-April 2022. 

Lorient 3-3 Le Havre

Also in the multiplex, FC Lorient and Le Havre AC played out an exciting three-all draw. Emmanuel Sabbi kicked off the scoring for Le Havre in the 15th minute, with his goal-scoring run extending to four goals in his last four matches. New arrival Imrân Louza responded for Lorient in the 33rd minute, leveling the game at 1-1. The second half brought more excitement as Ayman Kari put Lorient ahead 2-1 in the 51st minute, only for André Ayew to equalize for Le Havre in the 85th minute with his first goal for the club.

The drama continued with Mohamed Bamba restoring Lorient’s lead at 3-2 in the 92nd minute. However, there were more late heroics from Ayew, who secured a dramatic draw for Le Havre with a spectacular bicycle kick in the 94th minute. Ayew’s brace was his first Ligue 1 brace in 9 years and 127 days, with his previous one dating back to his Marseille days in 2014. Ayew was subbed on in the 70th minute, making an impactful return from the Africa Cup of Nations.