The Greens, winners by the smallest of margins (1-0), are leaving the critical zone. Unlike the MHSC, still the red lantern of the elite.
A goal from Benjamin Bouchouari allowed Saint-Étienne to win 1-0 at the expense of Montpellier, Saturday at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium, at the end of a match of the 12th day of Ligue 1 already important in the fight for the maintenance led by the two clubs. Bouchouari gave the Greens the advantage at the very start of the second period with a shot following a poor dismissal from the Hérault defense after a cross delivered from the right wing by Louis Mouton (47th).
ASSE, which thus won its fourth victory of the season, all obtained at home (Lille, Auxerre, Strasbourg, Montpellier) for a draw in Nantes, provisionally rose to 13th place (13 points). For its part, the Montpellier team remains bottom with seven points, three lengths behind Nantes, the first non-relegation team.
Two penalties refused in Montpellier
Overall, the Stéphanois, despite their technical weaknesses but always willing and united, supported by 33,000 supporters, who briefly interrupted the match for tennis ball throwing, deserve their success even if, apart from Bouchouari's goal, they did not was dangerous only by Ibrahim Sissoko (6th) then by Zuriko Davitashvili who missed the break point in front of goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte (52nd).
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For its part, Montpellier displayed greater possession of the ball (68%) but Jean-Louis Gasset's men, dominant, lacked precision as they approached the opponent's goal and sometimes lacked realism like on a chance from Wahbi Khazri (68th). They were also refused two penalties after the intervention of the video assistance on actions ultimately deemed legal by Yunis Abdelhamid in front of Teji Savanier (38th) and by Léo Petrot against Mousa El Tamari (52nd).
Despite the pressure they imposed in the last half hour, the Héraultais were unable to break the Greens who remained disciplined until the end.
