Multiplex: Nice go third, Toulouse thump Le Havre
Match Reports
In the Sunday multiplex of Matchday 23, OGC Nice recorded a vital win to move into the top three, FC Toulouse handed ten-man Le Havre a heavy loss and European hopefuls Stade Brestois and Racing Club de Strasbourg played out a scoreless draw. Catch up on all the afternoon's action:
OGC NICE 2-0 Montpellier HSC
With AS Monaco and Olympique de Marseille both having lost on Saturday, this match presented a real opportunity for Franck Haise's Aiglons to reinsert themselves in the race for a UEFA Champions League spot. And it was one they took with both hands, running out convincing winners at home over the league's bottom side. With Montpellier missing a raft of key defenders, their task was perhaps made easier, but it would take until the 30th minute for the hosts to take the lead, Jonathan Clauss slotting home off the post after a fine through ball from Evann Guessand.
Guessand was involved in Nice's second goal as well, coming midway through the second half. After his lung-busting run up the right, Hicham Boudaoui was there to finish off a lovely team move to double the lead. Montpellier would threaten near full time as Junior Ndiaye's header crashed off the bar, but it was ultimately a comprehensive win for Nice, who moved to within three points of Marseille in second with the victory.
Toulouseâs top goalscorer: ZAKARIA ABOUKHLAL đđČđŠ
(đž agencysahin) pic.twitter.com/sWLNV3lGm6â Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) February 23, 2025
AC Le Havre 1-4 Toulouse FC
Not having won since mid-January and in danger of being dragged into the relegation battle, this match was a fine riposte to critics of Les Violets of late. Zakaria Aboukhlal opened the scoring in the ninth minute with an acrobatic effort, and the visitors thought they had doubled their lead on 18 minutes but Shavy Babicka's goal at a corner was waved off. After the break, Le Havre would draw level with a fine headed finish by Issa Soumaré, but they would go behind again moments later after Vincent Sierro converted a penalty. Just before the hour, Junior Mwanga was sent off, and with blood in the water, Toulouse added another pair of goals from Aron DÞnnum and Franck Magri to round out the scoring.
RC Strasbourg 0-0 Stade Brestois 29
Strasbourg, who have had their struggles at times defensively this season, will be glad of having kept a third consecutive clean sheet in the league, but will also likely come away from this match with no small amount of frustration, having largely had the better of the Bretons. Emanuel Emegha had the ball in the net with less than 15 minutes on the clock, but the Dutchman was denied an 11th Ligue 1 McDonald's goal by VAR. The match then settled into a taut affair, but Racing thought they had a penalty early in the second half, only for VAR to intervene again. There was more urgency in the game's latter stages, with both Marco Bizot and Dorde Petrovic making fine saves, but it would ultimately be honors even, a result that leaves the two teams in seventh and ninth.
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