Marseille slowed down by Strasbourg, Le Havre stops the bleeding

Marseille once again conceded points at home, being unable to do better than a 1-1 draw against Strasbourg on Sunday at the end of the 18th day of Ligue 1 where Le Havre stopped a series of five consecutive defeats thanks to to his draw in Reims (1-1).

OM have only taken 13 points at home in Ligue 1 this season, compared to 24 away. But the Marseillais remain the only runners-up to Paris SG with five points ahead of the new third Lille.

At the Vélodrome, if Marseille had possession, it was Strasbourg thanks to the Dutchman Emanuel Emegha who struck first.

In the midfield, Andrey Santos saw Emegha’s call behind the Marseille central defenders’ backs. Alone against Geronimo Rulli, the Strasbourg striker deceived the goalkeeper with a ball from the right (1-0, 23rd).

In the 68th minute, coming on at half-time in place of Neal Maupay, the young Robinio Vaz, 17, caused a foul in the area, cut down by Santos which allowed Mason Greenwood to equalize and score his 12 goal of the season.

The Englishman is now the only top scorer in the championship ahead of Lille’s Jonathan David and Parisian Bradley Barcola.

It’s a bad operation for the Marseillais who remain nine points behind PSG, indestructible leader and winner on Saturday in Lens (2-1). Strasbourg remains 10th, but has a fifth consecutive match without defeat.

The Le Havre respite

Earlier in the evening, Le Havre offered itself a short respite, but a respite nonetheless against a Reims team which has also not advanced for five matches, by snatching a 1-1 draw away from home.

The Zimbabwean Marshall Munetsi opened the scoring for the Rémois (26th) but Arouna Sangante, following a confused action after a corner, put the two teams back on level terms (1-1, 67th).

With this point snatched away from its bases, Le Havre responds to the red lantern, Montpellier, who won against Monaco on Friday (2-1).

Didier Digard’s players remain 17th and first relegated, but still have a one point lead over Montpellier (13 against 12).

For Reims, now 13th in Ligue 1 with 21 points, this is the seventh championship match without a victory.

Sad loss in Saint-Etienne

Earlier in the day, Saint-Étienne, at home, with a goal from Augustine Boakye scored in the last minutes, snatched a draw against Nantes (1-1) which satisfied no one in the fight for maintenance.

Nantes, who opened the scoring thanks to Moses Simon’s fifth goal of the season, shares the points for the third time in a row after hanging on to Lille (1-1) and Monaco (2-2).

The Canaries remain 15th in the ranking while ASSE is 16th and a barrier, ahead of its opponent of the day on goal difference (-7 against -21).

The two teams can barely be satisfied with joining Rennes (14th) in the number of points (17) and being four points ahead of Le Havre, first relegation.