RC Strasbourg Alsace 1-1 FC Lorient

THE MATCH

Lorient made the journey across France to Strasbourg in sixth, having endured a recent wobble, but with 13 places and 17 points on their struggling hosts. The took the lead after the first attack of the game. Enzo Le Fée's corner was deflected to the back post by Dimitri Liénard, and Moffi was on hand to convert his 10th goal of the campaign (5'). Julien Ponceau thought he should have a penalty soon after, but Alexander Djiku's foul was outside of the box (15'). Gédéon Kalulu and Moffi then combined well to set Ponceau up for another chance, but Ronaël Pierre-Gabriel made a last-minute intervention (34'). Nearly all of the first-half traffic flowed in Lorient's direction, and Moffi should really have made it 2-0 when stole the ball from Alexander Djiku, but he fired wide with the goal at his mercy (39').

Strasbourg strike back

Whatever Julien Stéphan said to his side at the interval must have struck a chord, and le Racing came racing out of the blocks in the second half, with Jean-Ricner Bellegarde forcing a good save from Vito Mannone five minutes after the restart (50'). Former Arsenal man Mannone was playing in place of the injured Yvonn Mvogo, and what began as a quiet afternoon soon became quite the opposite with Kévin Gameiro the next to try his luck, turning another Bellegarde shot goalward (51'). Lorient still looked capable of scoring, and Dango Ouattara fizzed an effort past Matz Sels' post (63'), but Strasbourg deserved their equaliser when they got it, with Diallo converting from a Bellegarde cutback (87').

THE PLAYER: Jean-Ricner Bellegarde

Bellegarde played like a man possessed in the second half, helping Strasbourg end the fixture with 20 shots to their opponents' six. Bellegarde has normally been deployed as a defensive midfielder this season but Stéphan's formational tweak at half time with the former RC Lens playing more like a No.10 reaped its reward.

THE STAT: 5

Lorient are now without a win in their last five matches in Ligue 1 Uber Eats, with their early promise making way for frustration relatively quickly in recent weeks. Les Merlus haven't won since the start of October, when the beat LOSC 2-1 at the Stade du Moustoir.

LOSC 1-0 Angers SCO

Elsewhere, 2021 champions LOSC edged Angers SCO 1-0 at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

With Ismaily injured, Bafodé Diakité switched to left-back with Tim Weah asked to a job on the right, and Angers looked to have capitalised on Lille's patchwork defence when Amine Salama poked home Pierrick Capelle's cross, but his effort was ruled out for offside (33').

Tiago Djalo's header from a Rémy Cabella corner (36') ultimately proved the difference between the sides, and Les Dogues closed out the points despite playing out the last 15 minutes with 10 men due to Carlos Baleba's sending off (76').

Stade Brestois 29 2-1 ESTAC Troyes

Stade Brestois pulled out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over ESTAC Troyes at the Stade Francis-Le Blé, meanwhile.

Romain Del Castillo gave the hosts the lead with from the penalty spot five minutes after the restart (55'), but a Brendan Chardonnet own goal had Troyes back on level terms just five minutes later (60').

Islam Slimani missed a late penalty but referee Ruddy Buquet ordered a re-take and Steve Mounié stepped up to give Brest all three points (77'). Troyes also ended the game with 10 men after Mama Baldé was sent off (80').

FC Nantes 2-2 AC Ajaccio

FC Nantes left it late to salvage a share of the spoils against AC Ajaccio at the Stade de la Beaujoire.

Youcef Belaïli gave the Corsicans the lead from the penalty spot (57') before assisting Romain Hamouma for the goal that made it 2-0 to the visitors, but Nantes struck back through Ludovic Blas (70') and Moses Simon (89'), the latter's cross-turned-shot coming a minute from time.

Montpellier Hérault SC 1-1 Stade de Reims

There was even later drama at the Stade de la Mosson with Sacha Delaye scoring to make it 1-1 for Montpellier Hérault SC against Stade de Reims in injury time just two minutes after coming on.

Marshall Munetsi had only given Reis the lead three minutes from time when he bundled home Mitchell van Bergen's cross (87') but the visitor's joy was short-lived, with Delaye capitalising on a Yehvann Diouf parry (90'+1) for a share of the points.