NEWSLETTER Week 34 LIGUE 1 CONFORAMA Week 33 review: PSG romp to title, race for second back on PSG claimed a seventh Ligue 1 Conforama title with a 7-1 devastation of closest rivals Monaco in Week 33, leaving victorious OL and OM just four points shy of second with five matches left to play. Paris Saint-Germain are the champions of France for a seventh time following their merciless 7-1 demolition of 2016-17 champions and nearest rivals AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes on Sunday night, the win taking them 17 points clear atop the standings with five matches left to play. Disappointing in their 1-1 draw with Saint-Etienne when they had a chance to stitch up the title in Week 32, Paris Saint-Germain were another proposition all together as they bounced back in style on Sunday. Their devastating one-touch play in attack and ruthless finishing were simply too much for the second-best team in the land, and this without the combined 400m-odd-Euro presence of superstars Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappé, both sidelined through injury. "I'm very happy tonight. The championship is the competition that demands the most consistency throughout the season. After the loss to Real Madrid, the team bounced back well. We showed our strength," said coach Unai Emery, who is widely tipped to be on the way out in the summer despite reclaiming the league title and being on track for a domestic quadruple, with a Coupe de France semi-final against SM Cen looming on Wednesday. "We want to keep growing and continue writing our history, here in France and in Europe. The players were very focused tonight. They gave it everything for 90 minutes, to keep scoring goals and to keep defending. Now we turn our attentions to Wednesday's semi-final of the Coupe de France away to Caen." Meanwhile for Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim, for whom the only real positive was Rony Lopes' scoring his eighth goal in as many Ligue 1 Conforama starts, it was a bleak evening in the capital: "It was a very bad game. A nightmare. Worse than losing is the way we lost. Nothing went right. I think this is the biggest defeat of my career. In my mind, it'll leave a mark. The reality is that to get to the very top, we all have to do more, from the players to the staff. We need to work hard to secure second place." Indeed, the defeat leaves Monaco just four points clear of Lyon and Marseille, locked on 66 points and in red-hot form with five matches left, meaning the race for second place and direct Champions League qualification is back on in earnest. Powered by in-form Dutch international forward Memphis Depay, Lyon scored a fourth win in a row, 3-0 at home to Amiens, breaking the promoted side's four-match undefeated run. Depay, who followed up on his goal and four assists in Week 32 with another strike and assist, is playing a key role in Lyon's late-season surge, helping keep the pressure on Marseille. After a truly stunning performance in their 5-2 drubbing of RB Leipzig in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, OM knew they had to win to keep pace with Lyon and duly did so - thanks to a fit-again top-scorer Florian Thauvin's 17th of the season - but it wasn't easy faced with a relegation-threatened Troyes side, who twice took the lead. Below the Olympiques, Rennes are leading the charge for fifth and the UEFA Europa League berth that goes with it, but Sabri Lamouchi's men are in front of sixth-placed Nice on goal difference alone following their shock 2-1 home defeat to bottom side Metz, for whom relegation would have become a certainty had Nolan Roux not scored twice to overhaul the hosts and take the club within five points of safety ahead of their clash at home to Caen in Week 34. That Nice are back in the running for Europe has much to do with the uptick in form of Alassane Pléa, who with eight goals and an assist in his last five 04/20/2018 Ligue de Football Professionnel - 2017/2018 - Ligue1.com 1
outings, including his side's only goal in the 1-1 draw in Angers, is also making a case for inclusion in Didier Deschamps' France squad for the World Cup. Montpellier's bid for fifth took a blow as they fell heavily at home to south-western rivals Bordeaux, Ellyes Skhiri's spectacular long-range effort cold comfort as they fell 3-1 to Gustavo Poyet's side, who saw Denmark international Martin Braithwaite score his first goal for the club since signing in January. Nantes, longtime favourites for fifth, could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Dijon - their fourth in a row without a win (two defeats) and they duly slip to ninth. An own-goal from Saint-Etienne's Mathieu Debuchy snatched a draw from the jaws of victory over PSG last weekend, and it fittingly it was a goal from the former Gunner that handed Les Verts victory in Strasbourg on Saturday, the win taking Jean-Louis Gasset's side eighth while Strasbourg, five points clear of the drop in 16th, continue to flirt with danger. Things could have looked worse for Thierry Laurey's men had LOSC been able to sit on a two-goal lead, but two injury-time strikes from EA Guingamp clinched a 2-2 that leaves Christophe Galtier's side, who last won back in Week 23, in the relegation play-off spot, ahead of Troyes on goal difference. SM Caen's home clash against Toulouse was called off due to heavy weather in France's north. Week 33 reactions - Emery: 'Continue writing our history' Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery was a happy man after his side trounced challengers Monaco 7-1 to clinch the 2017-18 Ligue 1 Conforama title, a match opposite number Leonardo Jardim labeled 'a nightmare'. Sunday, April 15, 2018 Paris Saint-Germain 7-1 AS Monaco Unai Emery (Paris Saint-Germain coach): "I'm very happy tonight. The championship is the competition that demands the most consistency throughout the season. After the loss to Real Madrid, the team bounced back well. We showed our strength. We want to keep growing and continue writing our history, here in France and in Europe. The players were very focused tonight. They gave it everything for 90 minutes, to keep scoring goals and to keep defending. Now we turn our attentions to Wednesday's semi-final of the Coupe de France away to Caen." Leonardo Jardim (AS Monaco coach): "It was a very bad game. A nightmare. We lost almost every challenge. We conceded when we were sitting deep and we were caught out by balls in behind or from set pieces. Worse than losing is the way we lost. Nothing went right. I think this is the biggest defeat of my career. In my mind, it'll leave a mark. The reality is that to get to the very top, we all have to do more, from the players to the staff. We need to work hard to secure second place." Montpellier Hérault SC 1-3 Girondins de Bordeaux Michel Der Zakarian (Montpellier coach): "We had everything to be go fifth, but we didn't take our chance. We're still in the fight, with an extra opponent: Bordeaux are now in the running. We're disappointed, but we'll get our heads right and be ready for the next round. Some players didn't play as well as I expected them too. It was my choice to take Jonathan Ikoné out." Gustavo Poyet (Bordeaux coach): "We really deserved our win. We tried something different against a team playing three at the back and we found the key to hurting them. It was a great pleasure for the players that it worked. It's been a long time since we played so well. It's an interesting option going forward. Last time I talked about Europe we went six games without a win! So, I'm not talking about it. We have to end the season in a way which the fans deserve." ESTAC Troyes 2-3 Olympique de Marseille 04/20/2018 Ligue de Football Professionnel - 2017/2018 - Ligue1.com 2
Jean-Louis Garcia (Troyes coach): "It's difficult to accept. Not so much losing to Marseille but the manner of the loss. My team showed character and will power. We led twice. Unfortunately, we were undone by individual errors. We couldn't find a third goal to put them away. It's a shame, but we're still in with a chance and we won't give up even if this result was painful." Rudi Garcia (Marseille coach): "We played a match on Thursday that cost us physically [OM beat RB Leipzig 5-2 in the UEFA Europa League], so it's a great result. We went behind twice but we moved mountains. This team has huge talent. It was a real team victory. The team is doing great things but we have to keep it up until the end of the season. I'm liking this squad more and more. We can do something great but we haven't won anything yet." Saturday, April 14, 2018 Olympique Lyonnais 3-0 Amiens SC Bruno Genesio(Lyon coach): "The most important thing was to win. Scoring three goals and having lots of chances against a team that doesn't usually concede many was a plus. There are still five games to play including a very difficult one at Dijon on Friday. Nothing has been decided yet and we'll have to stay very motivated and focused in order to hold onto third place. The win at Marseille really kick-started something in the squad but we have to stay humble." Serge Gakpé (Amiens attacker): "We're disappointed. We knew they're effective on the counter and they scored the first goal like that. We conceded three and that's a pity. We were too timid in the first half and watched them play. 3-0 is a fair result in the end. We're really close to securing our Ligue 1 status but to seal it we need another win and we'll try to get it on Saturday at home." LOSC 2-2 EA Guingamp Christophe Galtier (Lille coach): "Will we get over giving up the draw at the end? I don't have the answer to that. If we'd played like that more often then we'd have more points on the board by now. We conceded two late goals and we need to avoid repeating our mistakes. We're making too many individual errors and they're costing the club dearly, costing the supporters. We're affected by it, I'm not going to lie. But we're not down and out and we still have hope." Antoine Kombouaré (Guingamp coach): "I'm happy for the players. They believed in themselves right until the end. I was very disappointed with the way we played as we never got going and they were more committed than us. Lille were fighting for their survival and I expected more from my team. It was a miracle we got back on terms. It's very tough on Lille but if they're where they are in the table there's a reason behind it." RC Strasbourg Alsace 0-1 AS Saint-Etienne Thierry Laurey (Strasbourg coach): "We did everything we needed to in order to win and the only thing I can criticise my players for is that we didn't score. We were out of luck and deserved at least a point. It was cruel to concede eight minutes from time. It's difficult for us at the moment as the treatment room is full. We have a united squad and that will help us to stay up. I'm disappointed with the result but not the display." Jean-Louis Gasset (Saint-Etienne coach): "It wasn't far off being a hold-up but when you've got a great goalkeeper and a defender who never gives up and keeps popping up with decisive goals, well it shows we have moral fibre. Strasbourg deserved better but either they came up against our goalkeeper or were wasteful with their finishing. There are five games left and we need to take risks to win them. Playing as we did here won't be enough." FC Nantes 1-1 Dijon FCO Claudio Ranieri (Nantes coach): "It wasn't easy having to make two early changes because of injuries. We played without confidence and at the end of the day I was happy with the point. We made a lot of runs wide without giving the ball to the forwards. A lot of teams are better than us and have a greater chance of qualifying for Europe. We need to keep fighting and we will fight until the end." Olivier Dall'Oglio (Dijon coach): "I think we played well and I'm happy with the draw. In terms of the quality of our play I think it was our best away 04/20/2018 Ligue de Football Professionnel - 2017/2018 - Ligue1.com 3
display of the season. We played it out of defence well and looked after the ball. Our players took risks and tried things. We're ahead of where we expected to be at this stage of the season and there's no question of us giving up on anything even of we are short of many players." Stade Rennais FC 1-2 FC Metz Sabri Lamouchi (Rennes coach): "I have trouble explaining this defeat. We started well enough and opened the scoring, although overall I wasn't happy with the first half. We should still have killed the game off but then we lost it in three second-half minutes. Things are fragile and as soon as we move away from the values that allowed us to get good results we end up with a performance like this one." Frédéric Hantz (Metz coach): "After being humiliated at home by Lyon we came here at the end of a difficult week to take on a form team. The victory is beautiful and are attitude was much better, something that will be important through to the end of the season. We've often led in recent games and it was good that we held on this time. The hope is still there, although the hope is small it has been reinforced by this victory." Friday, April 13, 2018 Angers SCO 1-1 OGC Nice Stéphane Moulin (Angers coach): "This is an extra point that helps us turn back the clock. This point feels like a win because our opponents were tough, a high-calibre team. For me, as a group, they're one of the best in Ligue 1. It's difficult to upset them. We had courage and never let go. We changed our system to get the equaliser. We were able to steal a point and that's good for the future." Lucien Favre (Nice coach): "It's a shame, because we could easily have taken all three points. This game had to finish 1-0. That didn't happen and it's our own fault. We kept pressing after the first goal and had lots of possession, but we made bad choices, took risks when we shouldn't have, and it cost us. We must stay positive. Out of the running [for Europe]? We aren't giving anything up." 04/20/2018 Ligue de Football Professionnel - 2017/2018 - Ligue1.com 4
COUPE DE FRANCE Mbappé double eases PSG into Coupe de France final Kylian Mbappé scored twice as Coupe de France holders Paris Saint-Germain saw off SM Caen 3-1 in Wednesday's semi-final and moved to within a game of completing a domestic quadruple. Wednesday, 17 April, 2018 Coupe de France semi-finals Stade Michel d'ornano SM Caen 3-1 Paris Saint-Germain THE MATCH The Ligue 1 Conforama duo had the knowledge either of them would be favourites going into the final on 8 May with third-tier Les Herbiers awaiting them at the Stade de France. After clinching the Ligue 1 Conforama title on Sunday, PSG were overwhelming favourites to be the amateur outfit's opponents, and though Caen had put paid to Olympique Lyonnais' ambitions in the last round, the Normandy hosts would quickly have been chasing the game had Damien Da Silva not defended bravely after Angel Di Maria had played a tempting ball into the box (5'). Edinson Cavani fired over (13') and Brice Samba made his first save of the game from a Di Maria shot (18') before PSG moved in front. Di Maria and Cavani were both involved with the latter shooting across goal where Mbappé was lurking (25') to net his third of the competition this season. In their first-ever Coupe de France semi-final, Caen were determined not to go down without a fight. Ivan Santini brought a save from Kevin Trapp (41') before Ismaël Diomandé, the matchwinner against Lyon, fired home clinically when Jessy Deminguet's shot ricocheted into his path (43'). Referee François Letexier used VAR to rule out a Cavani strike just after the break (47') and Ronny Rodelin then sorely tested Trapp (54') as Patrice Garande's side sought to make the most of their luck. At the opposite end, Samba twice kept out Di Maria (56', 77') before Mbappé struck again - Mr. Letexier this time using VAR to award the goal (81') - and Christopher Nkunku added a third (90+5') to take PSG through as Caen, who lost Diomandé to a late red card (90'), were left to ponder what might have been. THE PLAYER: Kylian Mbappé In the injury-enforced absence of Neymar Jr, the 19-year-old Mbappé again put in a performance way beyond his years. If PSG are gunning for a fourth successive Coupe de France, they have their young forward's clinical streak to thank. THE STAT: 4 If PSG lift a fourth successive Coupe de France, they will become the first club to do so. With three in a row, they are level with Lille and Red Star. 04/20/2018 Ligue de Football Professionnel - 2017/2018 - Ligue1.com 5
Garande: 'We weren't far off' SM Caen boss Patrice Garande was a disappointed man - despite a valiant performance from his side in their first-ever Coupe de France semi-final - following the 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night. Wednesday, April 17, 2018 Coupe de France, semi-finals Stade Michel d'ornano SM Caen 3-1 Paris Saint-Germain Patrice Garande (SM Caen coach): "The prevailing feeling is disappointment. We didn't play the exact match we had been planning to, but we weren't far off it. Even though we were faced wit ha side who are obviously superior, that' the feeling now. My players gave their all. But against Paris, you can't switch off for a second, and you have to try to press forward and cause them problems. Now we need to process it all and get back on track as we have a busy week ahead. Even though we're disappointed, we need to bounce back and take care of business." Unai Emery (Paris Saint-Germain coach): "The team is having a great run in the Coupe de France, especially this evening against a team that was pushed on by its fans and which wanted to play in the final. We played with character and control. In the first half, we deserved to score more, 1-1 gave our opponents a chance. We then took control of the game again and managed to score. Congratulations to Caen. They played well and caused us problems. We're happy to be in the final, it's good for our fans." 04/20/2018 Ligue de Football Professionnel - 2017/2018 - Ligue1.com 6