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Wissam Ben Yedder, providential man
The difference could only come from him.
Not that AS Monaco doesn't have talented players in its attacking sector, but quite simply because Wissam Ben Yedder is literally carrying the Principality club on his shoulders this season.
He provided further proof of this on Saturday evening.
While his team was trailing by two goals against Stade Brestois, the French striker first reduced the penalty mark just before the break (44th), before equalizing on the return from the locker room (51st), then to give the advantage to his team in stride (55th).
He is also involved in his team's last goal, the one scored by his friend in the Monegasque attack Kevin Volland since it was following his volley rejected by Marco Bizot that the
German managed to find the way to the nets.
Thanks to its classy performance (4-2), AS Monaco climbed to second place in the standings and can hope to qualify directly for the group stage of the Champions League.
SEE ALSO -
The best of Wissam Ben Yedder this season
Stade Rennais was starving
Last Wednesday, after Rennes' defeat against FC Nantes (2-1), the Rouge et Noir seemed dejected.
This Saturday evening, Bruno Génésio's men reacted perfectly.
By putting a lot of commitment - more than the Marseillais - and a lot of intensity, they were able to thwart the system and the positional game of Jorge Sampaoli.
As often this season, it was Benjamin Bourigeaud who carried his team.
The attacking midfielder opened the scoring quite early in the match (12th), with a nice cross shot at the conclusion of a quickly played transition.
A goal that allowed Stade Rennais to wait for the Phocaeans and play the counter-attacks.
Paying off strategy since the Breton formation, little worried, won the three points (2-0) and can thus still hope to finish on the podium.
Lamkel Zé offers hope to FC Metz
FC Metz can legitimately still believe in maintenance.
Not directly since the 17th - FC Lorient - is already saved, but through the dams.
This Saturday evening, the Grenats won against SCO Angers thanks to their inevitable striker Didier Lamkel Zé, an opportunist at the far post to place an unstoppable header shortly after returning from the locker room (50th).
A life-saving goal since it allows the Lorraine club to overtake AS Saint-Etienne in the standings, and therefore to temporarily occupy 18th place in the championship.
Everything will be decided on the final day for Frédéric Antonetti's men.
Read alsoThe Ligue 1 classification
flops
Bordeaux almost in Ligue 2
Mathematically, anything is still possible.
Sportingly, the relegation of the Girondins de Bordeaux is (almost) recorded.
By obtaining "only" the point of the draw at home this Saturday evening against FC Lorient (0-0), the Marine et Blanc remain three units from the play-off place... but with a goal difference significantly lower than their two competitors - AS Saint-Etienne and FC Metz - it is as if they were already doomed.
We will therefore witness the descent into the second division of one of the monuments of French football.
The Greens are getting into (great) difficulty
They had a great opportunity to get closer to maintenance.
But the Stéphanois, roadblockers before the kick-off of the 37th day, no longer have their destiny in their hands.
With their defeat at home to Stade de Reims (1-2), the Greens moved to second to last in the standings, ahead of their competitor FC Metz, who have the same number of points but have a better goal difference.
Next week, on the last day of the championship, Pascal Dupraz's men will have to hope for a misstep from their direct opponent - who faces Paris Saint-Germain - while achieving a better result than him to access the play-offs.
And give yourself a chance to hold on.
Amorphous and crumbly OM
They were almost unrecognizable.
Deprived of their master to play, Dimitri Payet, unavailable until the end of the season, the Marseillais certainly had possession of the ball - as often this season - but were not incisive enough in the Rennes camp to worry Alfred Gomis.
Faced with hungry Bretons, who felt the taste of Europe and the podium, they lost many duels, leaving them opportunities for transitions.
Opportunities that the men of Bruno Génésio did not miss since they scored two goals to afford a great success.
With this setback (2-0), OM descended to the third step of the podium.
And could even get off at all on the final day.
An end to the championship placed under the sign of pressure on the side of the Canebière.
OGC Nice loses almost everything
OGC Nice could potentially return to the podium race this Saturday evening.
But faced with a LOSC which is no longer playing anything at the end of the championship, the Aiglons have not managed to maintain their advantage of one goal, acquired in the first half.
In the second act, Christophe Galtier's players sank, conceding two goals in the space of ten minutes (52nd and 61st), then a final one at the end of added time.
With this setback, the Nice club has definitely drawn a line under the Champions League.
If he can still qualify for the next edition of the Europa League, he does not have his destiny in his hands.
A complicated end to the season on the Côte d'Azur.
