Ligue 1: the bad operation of Lens which falls in Metz

FC Metz, penultimate in the League before this 29th day of Ligue 1, won this Friday at home against Lille (2-1), which is dropping points in the race for Europe. The Northerners had however opened the scoring through Florian Sotoca from the penalty spot (13th), but Georges Mikautadze then scored a double (34th, 45th 2) to offer victory to the Garnets. Losc remains 6th in the standings but could be knocked out by Nice (which will face OM at the Vélodrome on Wednesday April 24) and be joined by Reims, traveling to Strasbourg on Saturday (5 p.m.). At the bottom of the ranking, Metz returns to Lorient, 16th and barrier.

George Mikautadze. Where would FC Metz be without him? Since his return, the Georgian has scored seven goals, as many as the entire team in the second half of the season. However, the Messins showed themselves to be conquerors in the first minutes of play, pressing and obtaining two opportunities through Jean-Jacques and Mikautadze, already present. But the Lensois quickly took control of the meeting. They regained possession of the ball and faced with Messins in a low block, Gradit decided to advance and serve Wesley Saïd in depth. The Lensois striker arrives in front of Oukidja and causes a penalty, transformed by Sotoca (11th).

We then say that the match is going well in favor of the Lensois, who continue to control the match until the hour mark. It is at that moment that Mikautadze decides to pull out all the stops. After a harmless corner , he is served by Van der Kherkhof in the area. Roulette from the right, shot from the left, the Lensois defenders saw nothing (1-1, 33rd). The Messins regained confidence and ended up bringing down the Lensois, before returning to the locker room. After a good recovery from N'Doram on David Pereira Da Costa, the former Lensois found Mikautadze on the right of the area. The rest is history. A magnificent dive to beat Samba, a second time.

The second period begins like the end of the first period. The Messins seem more confident and hold the ball better, even if the Grenats fail to make the break by Mikautadze with a heavy strike which does not surprise Samba (48th). Buoyed by the changes made at the hour mark, the Lensois are gradually returning to the game. Franck Haise's protégés missed the mark and sent the main ones of their chances into the skies of Lorraine. The Messins hold the score and will repel the Lensois attacks until the end, with a solidarity that they had missed so much.

LIVE - Metz-Lens: relive the victory full of solidarity of FC Metz (2-1)

Lazlo Boloni's men obtain their first success in a month and a 1-0 victory at Saint-Symphorien against Clermont. But the most important thing for them is to take the three points and come back on FC Lorient with 26 points on the clock. FC Metz remains 17th and penultimate on goal difference. For its part, RC Lens is no longer advancing and continues a fourth match without a victory.