the MHSC is fighting back, red cards galore… The tops and the flops

TOPS

Montpellier resilience

You should not sell the skin of the MHSC before having killed it. Jean-Louis Gasset came out of retirement to succeed Michel Der Zakarian and take on the role of service firefighter. His team embodied this feeling of urgency and revolt at the end of the first period, first by challenging Lille's domination, then by equalizing just after the opening score, just before half-time (Issiaga Sylla, 45^e+2).

Trailing again before the hour mark, the Héraultais sometimes seemed too limited to put Lucas Chevalier in difficulty. But as the end of the match approached, the MHSC found a second wind, even after the exit due to injury of its captain Téji Savanier. It was Arnaud Nordin, as a surface fox, who capsized Mosson (90th+3). He even rushed to recover the ball, as if Montpellier now wanted to seek victory. The draw will be enough for the happiness of La Paillade (2-2). Laurent Nicollin's club has not said its last word in the fight for maintenance (the ranking here).

David's composure

A difficult match, great discretion but in the end, two goals. Jonathan David had two penalties to take and he did it very well. The Canadian first crossed a precise shot from the right to catch Benjamin Lecomte on the wrong foot, then he opened his foot for a high shot, out of reach of the Montpellier goalkeeper. Here he is second top scorer in Ligue 1 this season, ahead only of the French international of PSG, Bradley Barcola (10).

FLOPS

Cabella and Mosson, a story of lovelessness

A child from Montpellier, with whom he won a historic French championship title in 2012, Rémy Cabella returned in 2022. Time to play 5 matches and leave on bad terms with the management, and indirectly with the supporters. The Lille player thus received an unfriendly reception, especially after causing the Mastiffs' second penalty and physically attacking Téji Savanier. Which earned him a very lenient yellow card.

Cabella was replaced in the 69th minute under a bronca from Mosson. Not satisfied, the Lille player spoke with supporters behind his team's bench, while he put on a coat. The fourth referee ordered him to sit on his bench so as not to stir up further anger in the stands. Scenes that we could have done without.

Coulibaly and the stupid gesture towards Genesio

One would have thought that the entrants were not as concerned by the palpable tension on the pitch. You have to believe that yes. Entered at 81^e minute, Tanguy Coulibaly stood out with an unfortunate gesture in added time. The Montpellier player was unable to prevent a ball from going out in front of the benches, while he was hoping to go on a counter-attack. The ball was very wide when he deliberately shot it and at Bruno Genesio, the LOSC coach.

Furious, Genesio entered the field. The players and the two benches gathered in the same place. Some people got into physical confrontation. For having been at the heart of the melee and potentially trying to fight it out, Lille's Mitchel Bakker received a red card even though he had been replaced a little earlier. Coulibaly did not escape the same sanction. The Cabella case was disturbing. This stormy end to the match descended into pitifulness.