Finally. It was not until the sixth day that we saw Lens' first victory this season. The RCL took the better of Toulouse (2-1) this Sunday, while Le Havre resisted the awakening of Clermont (2-1). Earlier, Strasbourg won the derby of the East on the lawn of Metz (1-0).
Lens relaunches
The RCL concludes its week on a high note. After a good draw brought back from Sevilla on Wednesday in the Champions League, Morgan Guilavogui's goal has transformed the operation on the spot of the Lensois into a plan to revive artesian ambitions. First led by Toulouse, Franck Haise's men have long stumbled against the opposing cages, as if the technical qualities of Lensoises evaporated once in the zone of truth.
But Wesley Saïd allowed himself a juggling session in the heart of the Toulouse surface to equalize in the extra time of the first act. Guilavogui propelled a second ball into the opposing net, at the same time as he pulled his club out of the red zone.
The gap could have been greater, if Deiver Machado had not served the improbable call of Elye Wahi, who spent the entire action in an offside position, while Lens had a three-on-one to play... against the only Toulouse goalkeeper. An action symptomatic of the beginning of the messy season of the Blood and Gold. The main thing was elsewhere. Racing is 16th.
🚨 Spoiler: there was no goal on this action😳#RCLTFC pic.twitter.com/jnsCiJhGEl
— Prime Video Sport France (@PVSportFR) September 24, 2023
Le Havre sinks Clermont
Only Toulouse have dropped two points against Clermont this season. The Auvergne fans had assured the players of their support last weekend, despite a new defeat against Nantes (1-0), but they did not offer enough momentum to their team to triumph in Normandy. Worse, the Clermontois suffered from entry, the time to pass under the crampons of the untenable Nabil Alioui (4th) and to be stabbed by the former of the house: Mohamed Bayo (7th), loaned by Losc.
The HAC gradually retreated until Cheick Oumar Konaté's off-centre strike, synonymous with closing the gap (45th + 2). Le Havre then played to scare themselves, as on this hand of Gautier de Lloris on the edge of the penalty area. Muhammed Cham's free-kick dented Arthur d'Esmas' bar. The Auvergnats grew. The Normans held. They scored a second success in the league. They are fifth, two points off the podium and far ahead of Clermont, the red lantern.
The derby of the East for Strasbourg
Metz and Strasbourg are close on the map of France. They were also in the Ligue 1 standings, before this Grand Est derby played at the Saint-Symphorien stadium. At kick-off, the Alsatians were close behind their host by one point in the standings. 90 minutes not very dynamic and a late goal from Habib Diarra (83rd) later, Racing supplanted its neighbor and invited itself into the first quarter of the standings with 10 units.
🗣 @PerrinLucas5: "I wish with all my heart that OM win tonight." #FCMRCSA #PSGOM pic.twitter.com/B5PHiRFQ9S
— Prime Video Sport France (@PVSportFR) September 24, 2023
Metz still remain six points ahead of the red zone, but the Garnets have lost their unbeaten streak at home. For more than a year, no one had come to pick them up at home, not even Marseille (2-2), nor Reims (2-2), the two clubs they have challenged since their return to the elite this summer.
