Ligue 1's Late Show: A look back at a dramatic round of action
On a weekend filled with goals (36 across the nine matches) in Ligue 1 McDonald's, no less than five matches were settled in dramatic fashion -- join us for a recap of all the drama of Matchday 31.
Stade Brestois 3-3 RC Lens
Off the back of a stirring comeback against Toulouse last weekend, second-place RC Lens found themselves under the cosh again on Friday. The hosts scored three times before the break, and Lens, surely exhausted after having played in the Coupe de France midweek. As they had a week earlier, though, Le Sang et Or battled back, with in-form Allan Saint-Maximin striking in the fourth minute of added time as Lens snatched a point to keep them within striking distance of Paris Saint-Germain atop the table.
ALLAN SAINT-MAXIMIN WITH A LAST MINUTE GOAL! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Z9jjr4V6Wk
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) April 24, 2026
Toulouse FC 2-2 AS Monaco
Monaco, still in with a shout for Europe, had gotten off to a slow start in several of their recent matches, having had to come back from two goals down against Auxerre. In this match, however, goals from Lamine Camara and Jordan Teze saw them leading 2-0 within twenty minutes. Undaunted, however, Les Violets struck back through Jacen Russel-Rowe and Emersonn, the Brazilian netting in the last minute of normal time to leave the visitors disappointed.
Toulouse equalize in the last minute against Monaco! 🤝 pic.twitter.com/JYKU3CXuTM
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) April 25, 2026
FC Lorient 2-3 RC Strasbourg
There's drama, and then there's drama. While neither Lorient, long assured of retaining their top-flight status, or Strasbourg, who have been focusing on cup competitions, had much at stake in this encounter, Les Merlus had lost only once this season at home, and entered added time leading 2-1. An own goal and a brilliant finish from an unlikely source -- Irish defender Andrew Omobamidele in the ninth minute of added time would be enough to give the Alsatians a confidence-boosting win ahead of Thursday's Europa Conference League semifinal in Madrid.
WHAT A COMEBACK BY STRASBOURG! 🔥😱 pic.twitter.com/sLbLxn5Zb2
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) April 26, 2026
Stade Rennais 2-1 FC Nantes
Former Nantes midfielder Valentin Rongier came back to haunt his former club with a fine goal in the second minute of added time. While there was always going to be plenty at stake in this derby encounter, Nantes slipped five points from safety while Rennes kept pace in the race for Europe with this grandstand finish.
Olympique de Marseille 1-1 OGC Nice
The final match of the weekend, the Derby du Sud between Nice and Marseille, wasn't quite as dramatic as the results earlier in the day, but the stakes were no less elevated. After Lille, Rennes and Lyon had all picked up three points earlier in the weekend, the hosts were behind the eight ball at the Vélodrôme. A second-half goal from Pierre-Emile Højberg looked set to give them three points, but in-form Elye Wahi, scorer of a double in the Coupe de France in the week, stepped up to convert a penalty with two minutes to play and earn Les Aiglons a vital point in the race to avoid the drop.
