Four days before their big European challenge on the lawn of Champions League title holder Chelsea, Lille was not really reassured by being held in check by Metz (0-0).
A very poor performance ‚ which is not necessarily the best performance before such a match.
We will have to show something else on Tuesday at Stamford Bridge.
Still uncertain two hours before kick-off due to the Eunice storm which crossed the Hauts-de-France region, the match went well.
But the brave spectators who braved the elements to get to the Pierre-Mauroy stadium must have regretted not staying warm.
Zero shots on target, technical approximations by both teams… The first period looked like a little torture for the eyes.
Additional reason for concern for Jocelyn Gourvennec in view of the match at Chelsea, the injury and the exit of the English striker Angel Gomes (27th).
Returning to the locker room for half-time, the rant of Lille captain José Fonté and the whistles of the spectators to accompany the two teams spoke volumes…
📊 The statistics of the match between @losclive and @FCMetz ➡️ https://t.co/OexGVsbXNB#LOSCFCM pic.twitter.com/xWrZkYWwwU
— Ligue 1 Uber Eats (@Ligue1UberEats) February 18, 2022
The sequel was barely a little indigestible with two actions from Jonathan David (52nd, 68th) who failed against Marc Aurèle Caillard.
The entries of Hatem Ben Arfa, Renato Sanches and Edon Zhegrova brought a little more dynamism and movement.
But the Kosovo international, who arrived from Basel in mid-January for €7m, was sent off for two yellow cards (with an imaginary first).
The end of the match is very tense.
On the benches, confusion reigns.
A verbal altercation pits Frédéric Antonetti against Sylvain Armand before the Metz coach throws himself on , the sports coordinator of LOSC.
The two men come to blows.
Furious, the Corsican coach of Metz is excluded by the referee.
Frederic Antonetti w wydaniu MMA.
Professional fighter.
pic.twitter.com/wCPo3O7JRs
— Bartek Gabryś (@BartekGab) February 18, 2022
In fact, there's more action off the pitch than on the pitch.
After this sad draw (0-0), the public growls and whistles.
“It was the referee who caused all this, regrets José Fonté at the microphone of Prime Video.
It is normal that there is commitment, tackles.
If we let more play, it's no longer football.
On the match, we can do much better.
We did not have a first period at our level.
We are frustrated.
We weren't thinking of Chelsea yet.
We won't think about it until tomorrow (Saturday).
It will be a good game to play.
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