Too amorphous and punished for its lack of offensive inspiration, LOSC was held in check by a catchy Nantes (1-1). Discover our tops and flops after this 16th day of Ligue 1.
The best
An ever more versatile workforce
In pre-match and for weeks, Bruno Genesio has continued to praise the diversity and versatility of his group, illustrated by versatile players like Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Mitchel Bakker, Hakon Haraldsson, Gabriel Gudmundsson and Aissa Mandi, for only cite those named by the LOSC coach on Friday. He can now add Remy Cabellaimpressive in danger and volume this Saturday evening against Nantes, despite offensive teammates a serious tone below him. Replaced as right winger a few minutes after the exit of Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who could be absent against Auxerre, the attacking midfielder proved that he could be a viable solution in a sector also impacted by the publicity of Edon Zhegrova.
Les flops
A lack of inspiration and an insipid second period
Despite 71% possession, LOSC obtained less xG (1.19) than Nantes (1.33xG with only 29% possession). Figures which fairly faithfully summarize the offensive sterility of the Mastiffs who, although they had control of the ball, demonstrated a cruel lack of decision-making and technical accuracy in the final third. A lack of sharpness which little by little gave confidence to the Canaries, with a very coherent low block and determined to attack in rapid transition with the poison Mathis Abline, always more disturbing for a Lille team which, instead of erasing its few rough edges in the first act, was in even more difficulty after the break, as too often against theoretically inferior teams (Saint-Étienne, Strasbourg, Montpellier).
LOSC (again) misses the opportunity to climb onto the podium
As is very often the case, LOSC can still bite its fingers. With sad memories of the Paulo Fonseca era, where the Mastiffs had the habit of shooting themselves in the foot when he could take a symbolic step, Bruno Genesio's men did it again when they had the opportunity to come back to the level of Monaco and Marseille (one match less for OM), and climb onto the podium if successful. Conversely, the northern club stagnated in fourth place and must have harbored even more regrets when OL saw OL overcome Montpellier in pain at the very end of the evening (1-0, 90+1′ ). Les Gones (5th) now have 28 points, as many as LOSC, without forgetting Nice (6th) and its 27 units.
Enzo PAILOT, in Villeneuve-d’Ascq
Photo credits: Johnny Fidelin/Icon Sport
