Ligue 2 Review #23: Cafaro scores on Paris FC debut, Caen's nightmare run continues

Another week of Ligue 2 BKT action has seen the top two win their respective home games this weekend to keep setting the pace at the top of the table. Leaders Lorient Were held 1-1 until late on against Amiens after Pablo Pagis opened the scoring with a stunning strike from range. Yet, a brace from Sambou Soumano scored in a matter of minutes saw Les Merlus turn around the scoreline and keep their three-point lead at the top of the table.

Paris FC won by the exact same scoreline, this time against Pau at Stade Charléty. Les Parisiens initially went behind after Pathé Mboup opened the scoring for the away side - before goals from Julien Lopez (28'), Jean-Phillipe Krasso (49') put the hosts in front. There was a debut and a goal for Mathieu Cafaro (75') for the capital club after joining from AS Saint-Étienne on deadline day. Les Parisiens secured a third win in a row and sit two points ahead of Metz who are in third place. 

Metz see off Clermont to keep up in 3rd place

FC Metz were also victorious at home last weekend to try and keep up with the pace set by the top two. It was a Ligue 1 McDonald's clash last season, but both CF63 and Metz have had vastly different fortunes in Ligue 2 BKT this season. Youngster Papa Amadou Diallo scored his fifth goal of the season early on for Les Grenats (4'), before top scorer Cheikh Sabaly added to his total with Metz's second (18'). Mons Bassouamina got one back for Clermont in the second half (53'), but Idrissa Gueye's strike would stave off any chance of a Lancier comeback at Stade Saint-Symphorien (69').

High-flying Dunkerque pile on the misery at Caen

Time is running out for Stade Malherbe de Caen to get out of a troubling spot at the bottom of the Ligue 2 BKT table. After dropping to the bottom of the table last week, Les Vikings suffered their straight eighth defeat in the league. Dunkerque - who were buoyant following qualification to the Coupe de France quarter-finals - got back to winning ways in the league to keep their play-off hopes up. Goals from Grégoire Courtet (45') and Naatan Skytta (56') helped Les Maritimes to victory, helped by a red card for Caen's Bilal Brahimi in the first half.

Around the Grounds: 

• Guingamp are managing to keep up the pace in the race for the play-offs, winning 3-0 over Ajaccio to go within one point of Dunkerque in fourth.
• Troyes overcame Martigues to win a straight second game and stop FCM's winning run thanks to goals from Rafiki Saïd and Nicolas De Préville.
• It was all rosy for Grenoble and Red Star fans off the pitch, celebrating a 16-year friendship between the two supporter groups at the Stade des Alpes. It was far from entertaining on the pitch, with both sides playing out a 0-0 draw which helped edge the away side one point further away from Martigues in the battle to avoid the drop to National.

WATCH: Highlights of Ligue 2 BKT (Matchday 22)

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>>Ligue 2 Review #22: Kroupi scores as Lorient see off Red Star, Caen hit rock bottom