While Lille had been offered a reprieve by the Nantes, winners on the lawn of Paris SG (1-2) last weekend, the Mastiffs received the Nîmes a week later.
A poster unbalanced at first glance.
"We have no chance, but we will play it thoroughly," said Pascal Plancque, the Gard technician, before the meeting against the leader.
But now, the reality on the ground catches up with that of the order established by the classification.
The Gardois won three unexpected points for maintenance thanks to Koné (12th) before Ripart came to offer victory (45th).
A setback (1-2) which allows Paris SG to come back up to points and even take the lead in Ligue 1 thanks to a better goal difference.
Christophe Galtier's men will go to the Parc des Princes at the end of an international break which comes at the right time for Lille.
A disappointment that ends a series of eleven Ligue 1 games without defeat.
Worse, the Lille remain on two setbacks after being out in the knockout stages of the Coupe de France by PSG.
A draw and two losses in the last three outings of LOSC.
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An offensive animation at half mast?
Because if Lille had an attractive face since the start of the season, the elimination in the round of 16 of the Europa League against Ajax seems to have had the effect of a big blow to the head for Galtier and his men.
Two draws against Strasbourg (1-1) and Monaco (0-0) punctuated by a victory against a completely ill OM (2-0) and a defeat at home against Nîmes (1-2). not plead in favor of LOSC in the thrilling title race offered by this Ligue 1 season. In content, Lille are struggling to regain their creativity and to be dangerous as they were until then.
With four goals scored in as many games, the Mastiffs are far from their usual standard (on average, Lille scored 1.7 goals / game before the elimination against Ajax).
Burak Yilmaz, convalescent, Jonathan David, who is struggling to regain his performance, and Yusuf Yazici, in difficulty, are the symbols of this poor Lille offensive pass.
During the draw (0-0) in Monaco, Lille struggled to be dangerous, posting only 0.16 Expected Goal (the expected goals).
Bis repeated this Sunday, where Christophe Galtier's men did better than 0.79 against the worst defense in the championship.
A system exposed to cons
"For the first time in forty games, we have not managed to defend well," commented Xeka, the only Lille scorer, after the defeat against the Gardois this Sunday.
Since last January 6, Lille had not conceded two goals in the league (1-2 defeat against Angers).
This Sunday, it is thanks to counter attacks that the Nîmes attackers were able to bend the opposing rearguard, the best in Ligue 1 with 19 goals conceded in 30 days.
The gaping space behind the backs of Lille defenders allowed Koné to open the scoring (12th) before Ripart (45th) came to give victory to his people.
"We forgot to defend in the first period," commented Lille captain and defender José Fonte after the meeting.
Even going so far as to point the finger at “attitude” problems.
Carried on the offensive, the system set up by Christophe Galtier exposes the LOSC to opposing cons.
A race for the podium rather than the race for the title?
What if LOSC's problem stems from its lack of ambition?
In a season that promises a final of madness between the four leading formations, LOSC seemed to be a real champion to challenge PSG in the race for the throne.
But now, this Sunday, Christophe Galtier was cautious after the defeat against Nîmes.
"In the first four, we are perhaps the team with the least experience or control," he said after the defeat.
However, before the LOSC lost its chair as leader, in favor of a conquering PSG on the lawn of Lyon (2-4), the Mastiffs had occupied the first place for eight long weeks.
No coincidence in a season with an undecided scenario.
In addition, the Parisians, weighed down by the weight of the Champions League and a quarter-final against Bayern, could lose strength and points in Ligue 1. In Lille, Lyon and Monaco to jump at the opportunity to put end of the capital club's monopoly on Ligue 1 since 2017.
A lost leadership position and two weeks of international truce may have the effect of putting Lille back on the right track.
Crowned with the honorary title of best defense in the championship, they will go to the lawn of the Parc des Princes (on April 3) with one mission in mind: to take back the reins of Ligue 1.
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League 1 standings
