Rennes 1-2 Guingamp
Rennes' European ambitions look over after a surprise defeat in the final of the Coupe de France. American defender Carlos Bocanegra gave Guy Lacombe's Ligue 1 favourites the edge, heading in a free-kick from close range with 20 minutes to go. Brazilian striker Eduardo dos Santos equalised with a fine strike three minutes later and, with seven minutes remaining, he put Guingamp in front as the Rennes defence got caught out.
The league programme was off for the weekend because of the cup final, but we have a full round of fixtures in midweek.
Tuesday:
Lyon v Nantes
Wednesday:
Nancy v Lorient
Auxerre v Grenoble
Nice v Marseille
Le Havre v St Etienne
Toulouse v Lille
Sochaux v Monaco
Rennes v Caen
Le Mans v PSG
Valenciennes v Bordeaux
Lots of issues still to decided at either end of the table. Bordeaux should see off Valenciennes with ease given the two sides relative form. Laurent Blanc's side are playing quite magnificently at the moment, maintaining the pressure on leaders Marseille who have the tougher task this week, going away to Nice. Lyon are seven adrift and surely too far away with four games remaining, though they should beat relegation haunted Nantes. Claude Puel has dismissed reports that he'll leave Lyon after a disappointing first season, but PSG will start next season with a new gaffer as Paul Le Guen will leave Parc des Princes when this season is done. They're still fighting for European football, but will be hot favourites to see off Le Mans. Toulouse were buoyed in midweek by the news that André-Pierre Gignac has committed his future to the club and their game against Lille will see the loser all but out of the race for Europe.
Down at the bottom, Le Havre can still save themselves, albeit with an unlikely set of circumstances needing to come about were it to happen. They face St Etienne in a relegation tussle. Les Verts are desperate for points just as Le Havre are so this will either be a gung ho excitathon or as cagey as your average budgerigar's living arrangements. Caen won well last time out to move out of the bottom three and take on Rennes who must be deflated after that Cup defeat. Rennes are six points away from a European place. Surely it's gone now. Sochaux are out of the bottom three, but will be doing well to see off in-form Monaco while Nancy have pulled out of trouble these last few weeks and could go above Lorient if they beat them on Wednesday. Auxerre are in great form, as they have been since their talisman, Ireneusz Jelen, came back from injury, and they welcome Grenoble to the Abbé-Deschamps in a mid-table tussle.
No comments:
Post a Comment