Recap: Strasbourg, Toulouse, & Angers victorious in Multiplex
Match Reports
Find out what went on in the first multiplex of the year in Ligue 1 McDonald's with three games that took place on Sunday afternoon.
Strasbourg 3-1 Auxerre: RCSA move up to 10th with win over Auxerre
Liam Rosenior's Strasbourg kicked off their 2025 with a convincing win at home to Auxerre to rise to 10th in the Ligue 1 McDonald's table and seal their first victory in five games in the league. Auxerre started the game on the front foot and opened the scoring within the first 15 minutes via the in-form Hamad Traoré, who simply picked up Les Alsatiens' failed clearance to poke home past Petrovic (14'). Yet, the hosts got themselves right back into the game just before the conclusion of the half, as Jubal gave away a penalty for a foul and Habib Diarra stepped up to confidently convert (45'+2).
L'AJA would get the first big chance of the second half as Jubal spotted Petrovic off his line with an audacious lob, but the Strasbourg keeper did enough to reel backwards and save for a corner. It was then the hosts who took the advantage, as Lemaréchal picked up the ball and played a one-two with Emegha to head goalwards. The Frenchman closed in on Donavon and finished well to put RCSA two-one up (60').
Liam Rosenior's side then confirmed their dominance with another goal late in the day to effectively seal the result. Played well in-behind the Auxerre defence, Emegha took the ball past the Auxerre keeper and finished off-balance to put the result out of any doubt (87').
Lens 0-1 Toulouse: Les Violets go level with Lens after win at Boelleart
Toulouse earned a vital 1-0 victory at Stade Bollaert to go level with Lens on points at 7th in the Ligue 1 McDonald's table. The visitors took full advantage of their numerical superiority following Pereira Da Costa’s second-half red card, scoring the decisive goal from the penalty spot through Zakaria Aboukhlal (65’).
The game started evenly, with both sides creating half-chances but failing to convert. Lens seemed to be growing into the game before a series of key VAR interventions changed the trajectory. Pereira Da Costa was sent off after a review upgraded his yellow card to a red for a foul on Sidibé. Minutes later, a soft penalty was awarded to Toulouse after Aboukhlal was clipped in the box. The Moroccan forward calmly converted, putting TFC in the lead.
Despite pushing hard during eight minutes of added time, Lens couldn’t breach Toulouse’s organized defense, with Guillaume Restes making several crucial saves to seal all three points for Téfécée.
Angers 2-0 Brest: Les Angevins move to 14th after vital win over Bretons
It was paramount that Angers got back to winning ways if they wanted to keep up with Saint-Étienne in the race to stay in Ligue 1 McDonald's by the end of the season. The first goal came early with Esteban Lepaul capitalising on a defensive miscue to slot home (6'). The hosts were good value for their lead, but wastefulness in front goal mixed with the sharp reflexes of Marco Bizot saw the game kept at a knife-edge.
It was set to be a nervous finish for SCO, before some stoppage-time drama saw the hosts double their lead. Niane's initial low finish was flagged offside after being played on goal - but the referee would consult VAR and reverse the on-field decision. Que jubilant scenes at Stade Raymond Kopa, as Angers moved further away from the drop zone and up to 14th in the league.
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