Ligue 1, Gameweek 20, 29/01/23

A Kasper Schmeichel-inspired OGC Nice earned a narrow victory against Lille OSC (1-0). Gaëtan Laborde scored the only goal of the game, profiting from a Rémy Cabella mistake.

Lille should have been at least three up, if not four by the time Nice scored their opener. Mohamed Bayo, Rémy Cabella and Timothy Weah all forced Schmeichel into huge saves when 1v1. Cabella had another huge chance just a few yards out, but ragged wide of the goal when it looked easier to score. 

Les Dogues didn’t take their chances and they were punished. Cabella, who endured a horror-show of a first-half, fed Badredine Bouanani through on goal, and with all the time in the world, he passed across the goal to Gaëtan Laborde, who couldn’t miss with the open goal gaping. 

Schmeichel’s heroics continued into the second-half. He made an important save from Bafodé Diakité to maintain Nice’s slender advantage. However, that lead should have been doubled, and it would have been if not for the legs of Lucas Chevalier, who denied Aaron Ramsey. 

Jonathan David, who had been largely anonymous, got a couple of chances to level, but he couldn’t make good contact with either shot from inside the Nice box. Neither side managed to create a clear-cut opportunity before the final whistle, meaning that Nice close the gap to the European places to nine points. They are eighth, six points behind today’s opponents Lille. 

Nice player ratings

Kasper Schmeichel – 9 – Scheimchel’s best game in a Nice shirt. The former Leicester City goalkeeper has come in for criticism since his summer move, and rightly so at times. However, he was the difference between victory and defeat against Lille. In the first-half alone, he made three crucial 1v1 saves from Bayo, Cabella and Weah. Les Aiglons could easily have been three goals down before they scored their opener. This victory is in large part thanks to Schmeichel’s heroics. 

Melvin Bard – 6

Dante – 6 – The Brazilian looked in trouble in the opening stages, and understandably struggled to contain a pacy Lille attack. The former Bayern Munich centre-back took a yellow card for a cynical challenge with Lille breaking in behind, but as the game wore on, Dante asserted his dominance, especially when Nice dropped into a lower block, reducing the space behind the defence. 

Jean-Clair Todibo – 5

Khéphren Thuram – 7 – He is such an elegant player and exudes confidence, calm and control. After a difficult start to the season, Thuram is beginning to refind his best form. Against Lille he was always in the right place and made the right choices. He makes even the most difficult of actions look so easy, and some perfectly-executed progressive passes really helped his side create chances. 

Hicham Boudaoui – 6

Aaron Ramsey – 5

Sofiane Diop – 4

Gaëtan Laborde – 6 – Not the Frenchman’s most influential game, but he did prove the difference, scoring into an empty net to give Nice a crucial win. 

Badredine Bouanani – 7 – The Frenchman was making his first start for Nice, and it came against his former club. He stood out from the first minute with some deft touches and eye-catching pieces of skill. Much of Nice’s joy came down his flank, and it was largely thanks to the debutant, who Les Dogues struggled to contain throughout.

Lille player ratings

Lucas Chevalier – 5

Ismaily – 4

José Fonte – 5

Tiago Djalo – 5

Bafodé Diakite – 4

Angel Gomes – 5

Leny Yoro – 5

Rémy Cabella – 2 – Nice’s best outfield player. He missed two huge close-range 1v1s, dragging his first inexplicably wide of the mark. He then set up Nice’s opener with a slack back pass straight into the path of Bouanani, who had all the time in the world to pick out Laborde, who made no mistake putting the ball into the open net. Cabella’s move to Lille has been a success thus far this season, but this is an afternoon that he will be keen to quickly forget. 

Jonathan David – 5 – A really anonymous performance from one of the divisions most prolific strikers. He couldn’t get himself into the game, and when the ball did eventually come his way, he lacked his usual clinical touch, undoubtedly a bi-product of his lack of involvement in the tie. 

Timothy Weah – 7 – The American, who has been tested in a variety of positions this season, was a constant threat at right-wing. On the counter, he had the pace to get in behind, and the composure to put the ball on a plate for his teammates. On another day he would have had a couple of assists to his name. He should, however, have done better when 1v1 against Schmeichel, but credit to the Danish goalkeeper who made himself imposing when he was second favourite to make the save. 

Mohamed Bayo – 4 – Should have done better with his one big chance. 

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With former club Marseille uninterested in re-signing the French forward, Florian Thauvin may look to Greece for his return to European football. The 30-year-old is now a free agent after his contract at Tigres UANL in Mexico was terminated.

Olympiacos and Serie A’s Udinese are reportedly interested in the former World Cup winner, but the Greek side may have the necessary pull factor to retrieve him from Mexico. As reported by Ignazio Genuardi, Olympiacos manager Míchel and player Mathieu Valbuena have both been in contact with Thauvin to convince him to move to the Piraeus side.

The right-winger had previous spells in France at Grenoble, Bastia, and Lille before a move to the French Riviera. He spent one season at Marseille before a brief move to Newcastle United. He was then loaned back to Les Olympiens before a permanent move was finalised. Across 227 appearances for Marseille in Ligue 1, he accrued 76 goals and 48 assists.

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Chelsea are currently blocking Olympique Lyonnais’ signing of out-of-favour AC Milan midfielder Tiémoué Bakayoko (28), according to a report from L’Equipe.

Lyon reportedly opened talks to sign the one-time French international as OL head coach Laurent Blanc has requested that the club sign the experienced defensive midfielder before the January transfer window slams shut tonight. Bakayoko fits the bill but there’s a catch. The former AS Monaco all-action midfielder signed for the West London outfit in 2017 on a five-year deal worth €40m following his outstanding performances with Les Monégasques, who won the Ligue 1 title and played the Champions League semi-finals that year.

In 2021, Chelsea, the parent club of Bakayoko, and Milan agreed on a two-year loan deal with an option to buy for the Frenchman, whose contract with the West London outfit was extended until 2024. But this season, Bakayoko has not featured once with the Stefano Pioli-led side. L’Equipe report that Chelsea are expecting a compensation fee from Milan over the termination of the loan. The Rossoneri have reportedly declined to pay it, stalling any move for the Frenchman to Lyon.

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Speaking to Téléfoot this morning, Paris Saint-Germain sporting advisor Luís Campos spoke about a potential contract extension for Lionel Messi (35), whose current deal runs until June 2023. 

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Campos gave a update on the state of talks between the club and Messi’s camp, saying that “at the moment we are in discussion with Messi for an extension,” adding that “I would like to keep him at the PSG project, I’m not going to lie,” admitted the Portuguese native. 

The former Lille and current Celta Vigo advisor finished with “We are discussing at the moment to reach this goal and to have him with us.” 

Lionel Messi, of course now a World Cup winner, has made 18 Ligue 1 appearances this season, managing to score on 10 occasions whilst registering 10 assists for Les Parisiens. 

The 35-year old was on target against Toulouse with a a low-curled finish at the Parc des Princes on Saturday to put the league leaders ahead on the 58th minute. 

Paris Saint-Germain sporting advisor Luís Campos today spoke with Téléfoot about Neymar’s performances for the club this season, since Campos joined the club. 

Campos described the player in a positive light, saying that  “the truth is that since my arrival at the club I’ve had no criticism for Neymar,” explaining the Brazilian is “always on time, always in a good mood.” 

The former Lille and current Celta Vigo advisor finished off his praise for the attacker, by saying that “this Neymar is an incredible Neymar,” hinting at the former Barcelona man’s patchy past in the French capital over the years.

The praise from Campos comes as a reflection on a change in the Brazilian’s form on the pitch. The 31-year-old has made 18 appearances this season in Ligue 1 for PSG, scoring 12 goals and registering 10 assists. In the Champions League he has also been performing well, with two goals and three assists to his name in five European  appearances.

 

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Wolves have confirmed that caretaker manager Steve Davis will remain in charge of the club until the new year after they were snubbed by Michael Beale.

The Premier League club have opted to give Davis more tie after they were rejected by QPR head coach Beale on Thursday afternoon.

This snub followed Julen Lopetegui’s decision to turn down the job for personal reasons after he departed La Liga side Sevilla.

Wolves have been looking for a new manager since sacking Bruno Lage earlier this month and Davis has been in charge for three games.

Chairman Jeff Shi said: “In the short time Steve and his team have been in interim charge of the first-team, we have already seen improvements to the group, with the players responding well to their methods and the changes they have started to implement.

“Steve understands the culture and standards set at this club, and we want to give him and his team clarity on their positions and allow them the best possible opportunity for success.

“While there are no outstanding candidates to appoint on a permanent basis to the head coach position, we have complete faith in their ability and leadership to continue their roles into the World Cup break and new year.

“We have no plans to rush our search for a new permanent head coach and will not compromise in any way our approach to appointing the person we believe to be the perfect fit for our club, our squad and the role of head coach at Wolves.”

Davis will continue to be assisted by James Collins and Tony Roberts and the club will look to extend the coaching team to provide more support.

Former coach Rob Edwards and ex-Lyon coach Peter Bosz were interviewed while Nuno Espirito Santo, who led the team from 2017 until 2021, was under consideration.

QPR’s Beale was flattered to be offered the opportunity to talk to Wolves.

The 42-year-old has impressed in his first job in management, taking Rangers to the top of the Sky Bet Championship following a 3-0 home win over Cardiff on Wednesday night.

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Wolves had made Beale, who was assistant to Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa before joining QPR in the summer, their top choice.

However, after being notified of a formal approach late on Wednesday, Beale opted to stay at Loftus Road.

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