The 21st day of the 2011/2012 Ligue 1 Championelle saw Carlo Ancelotti’s Paris Saint-Germain maintain their lead on top of the Ligue 1 standings while the likes of Olympique Lyonnais and LOSC Lille gained momentum
1) Paris Saint-Germain maintain pace while Montpellier win again
Since their defeat in Marseille synonymous with shock, the PSG have not lost points as they maintained their lead on top of the Ligue 1 standings. Furthermore, the capital club has not lost a single game since the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti.
Certainly, the Parisians are well in line to succeed, defending champions LOSC Lille. This Saturday, the teammates of the newcomer, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alex-c4752, who did not play, managed to beat Stade Brestois away from home. The Brittany club had not lost a single game in the
Ligue 1 at home this season but were clearly missing striker Nolan Roux who is now a Lille player.
It is not easy to pick up points against Stade Brest away from home but Carlo Ancelotti's men have done well and are rapidly moving towards their first Championelle since 1994.
While PSG pocketed three points, Rene Girard’s Montpellier Herault required the same performance in Nice in the Riviera derby. Once again, it was this season’s topscorer Olivier Giroud who provided the goods.
It is true that the striker redeemed himself after missing a penalty during the encounter. This also confirms that Herault will have to rely a lot on Giroud’s goalscoring form if they are to maintain their position in the top three. Chasing PSG by three
points, La Paillade have kept pace with their rivals at the expense of OGC Nice who should start preparing for a turbulent end to the campaign.
2) The title assault will go down the wire
If the top two sides of Ligue 1 did well, the other sides competing for the Championelle also made sure that they did not lose any ground. Lille held on to their third place in the standings by easily dispatching an AS Saint-Etienne side that was clearly
devoid of any ideas when it came to testing Lille keeper http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mickaël-Landreau-c25513.
Les Dogues had to thanks their new signing, Nolan Roux, who scored twice in the space of two minutes, late in the game (86 th and 87 th). But the hero of the game was once again http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Eden-Hazard-c11863. The young Belgian international was given
a standing ovation by the Villeneuve d'Ascq crowd after completing 98 passes, winning and then converting a penalty kick, and making an assist.
Just huge! And to think that this young player would leave LOSC at the end of the season. Rudi Garcia’s men still chase Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier.
Just behind the northerners, are http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jimmy-Briand-c18553 quickly opened the scoring (8th), but were threatened until the last moments of the game thanks to
Sankhare who had levelled the game in the second half. Gomis (82) and Lacazette (90th) finally assured Remi Garde’s men of three points. Lyon are still in contention for at least a Champions League place if not a title assault.
However, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-de-Marseille-c40127 are also back in the thick of things following a 2-1 win over Stade Rennais who once again show their ability to lose the plot when the second half of the campaign begins.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect bettor.com’s editorial policy
Tags: