Matchday 31 - PSG is breathing that much easier, more movement at the top

By: Sam | April 8th, 2007

The big stories in the 31st week of Ligue 1 action this were: PSG gaining a bigger distance away from the long-occupied relegation zone, Marseille exploding back into form against Lille and the top two dropping points.

Inara, the newest addition to the wonderful Offside crew, has the recap (actually, make that The Recap) for Lyon’s trip to Valenciennes, in which they couldn’t muster much in terms of numbers against the mediocre northern side. They did, however, come close a whole mess of times, like early in the match when Benzema found Penneteau’s post. Bad news for Lyon though: Toulalan and Benzema both went out of the match with injuries.

At the other end of the standings, Paris Saint-Germain were playing host to the so-so Le Mans team. Paris looked destined to go back to the bottom 3 in the first half, when Grafite opened the scoring on a surging counter-attack for MUC. Not laying down, the hosts equalized through a very decent Luyindula near the hour mark. The finishing touch came ten minutes from time via Amara Diané, the young striker who’s impressed quite a few people since joining PSG last summer. As lowly as it is in retrospect, Paris are quite happy with their 15th place for the time being. Le Mans, on the other hand are 12th.

On Sunday, it was perhaps the most important match when 7th-placed Lille came in to town to take on 11th-placed Marseille. It didn’t take long for things to heat up when Emerson was sent off for tackling Pagis from behind in the box on eight minutes, resulting in a penalty as well. Mamadou Niang buried it. Three minutes later, at the other end, Rodriguez was called for mucking about with Fauvergue. Penalty. Goal. Now, get this. Renato Civelli, not the best defender, definitely not the best goalscorer, very much the scapegoat for many of OM’s conceded goals, gets a brace. In the words of every twelve-year old on MSN, wtf? Yeah, so Niang also got a beauty in the closing stages and it finished 4-1. Marseille, now in fifth, which means Intertoto (any fan shudders at the sound of that word) are looking more than ready to go higher up. Lille slump down to eighth with the loss.

Rennes, welcoming second-place Lens, got the win with John Utaka sliding home the only goal on thirty minutes. Rennes, now ninth, are not far from the big time. Lens, slipping and sliding, are still in second, tied with Toulouse on goal average. They have a game in hand, however.

Fabien Barthez was in goal for Nantes after his slightly hilarious blunder last weekend as they visited Saint-Étienne. No redeeming himself this time. It was 2-1 to les Verts, with goals from Hognon and Gomis. Diallo got Nantes’ goal.

The up-and-coming Toulouse boys climbed into third place this weekend, beating the kinda-sucky Sedan on the road. Paulo Cesar and Ebondo accounted for the goals that have TFC (not that TFC) in position for a UCL qualifier spot, more than they could have imagined.

Other scores: Auxerre 0-0 Bordeaux; Monaco 0-0 Troyes; Nancy 0-1 Lorient; Sochaux 1-1 Nice