Ligue 1 Roundup: Marseille beat Angers, keep pressure on Lens
PARIS (AP) — Dimitri Payet made essentially the most of a uncommon begin this season to attain as Marseille beat relegated Angers 3-1, conserving stress on Lens within the race for second place and an automated Champions League spot.
The 36-year-old Payet met Alexis Sanchez’s cross to the again publish within the forty eighth minute with a neat end into the roof of the web.
The standard former France playmaker, who’s not an everyday in Marseille coach Igor Tudor’s facet however was as soon as the workforce’s standout participant, bought an ovation from followers at Stade Velodrome when substituted halfway by way of the second half.
“It’s been a difficult season for him, but he’s always been right behind us,” midfielder Jordan Veretout mentioned.
Third-place Marseille remained two factors behind Lens with three video games left. The third-place facet goes into the Champions League qualifying rounds, and Marseille’s virtually there with an eight-point lead over fourth-place Monaco.
Sanchez equalized within the thirty fourth after Abdallah Sima gave last-place Angers a shock lead 5 minutes earlier.
Veretout added a late penalty for 3-1.
Earlier, Alexandre Lacazette did not convert an injury-time penalty as Lyon misplaced 2-1 at Clermont to fall behind in its bid for a European place subsequent season.
Lacazette’s penalty deep into stoppage time final weekend helped Lyon beat Montpellier 5-4 at residence, and capped a outstanding four-goal efficiency.
Lacazette put Lyon forward within the twenty second minute in opposition to Clermont after being arrange by Swedish ahead Amin Sarr for his twenty fifth league objective of the season.
But the lead lasted solely three minutes as Grejohn Kyei equalized from the penalty spot. He then gave Clermont the lead halfway by way of the second half earlier than Lyon was awarded a penalty 4 minutes into stoppage time following a video evaluate.
After a few minutes, Lacazette stepped up however his low effort lacked energy and was saved by goalkeeper Mory Diaw. The miss saved Lacazette one objective behind Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe on the high of the scoring charts. Lyon is in seventh place, with fifth place incomes a Europa Conference League slot.
RAINBOW REFUSAL
Teams wore rainbow-colored numbers on their jerseys this weekend to lend help to the battle in opposition to homophobia.
But Toulouse ahead Zakaria Aboukhlal was disregarded of the squad for its 0-0 residence draw in opposition to Nantes after refusing to put on the jersey.
Aboukhlal posted on Twitter to defend his resolution.
“First and foremost I want to emphasize that I hold the highest regard for every individual, regardless of their personal preferences, gender, religion or background,” Aboukhlal wrote.
“Respect is a value that I hold in great esteem. It extends to others, but it also encompasses my respect for my own personal beliefs. Hence, I don’t believe I am the most suitable person to participate in this campaign.”
Toulouse beat Nantes 5-1 within the French Cup remaining earlier this month.
OTHER MATCHES
Fourth-place Monaco drew 0-0 with fifth-place Lille. Fourth spot ensures automated qualification for the Europa League.
Monaco stayed 5 factors forward of Lille and is six away from Rennes, which routed struggler Troyes 4-0 at residence with Cameroon ahead Karl Toko Ekambi scoring twice. Troyes grew to become the third facet relegated together with Ajaccio and last-place Angers with yet another workforce set to go down.
Nantes is in seventeenth place.
Auxerre is one level above Nantes in sixteenth place after shedding 1-0 at Brest, whereas defender Faitout Maouassa netted a stoppage-time penalty to earn Montpellier a 1-1 residence draw with Lorient.
PSG moved nearer to a document eleventh French title when it routed Ajaccio 5-0 on Saturday, with Mbappe scoring twice as Ajaccio went down.
