Still stunned by their rout on Saturday in the Coupe de France final, the Nantes residents lost 2-0 to Brest, who gave them the formidable 17th place in relegation, Wednesday during the 33rd day of Ligue 1. Of the last 10 matches , the balance sheet is catastrophic: 4 points taken out of 30 possible, with six defeats and four draws.
Once again, the Canaries waited to be down 2-0 to react. But weighed down by a ball from Alban Lafont against Jérémy Le Douaron (18th) and dented by a header from Mathias Pereira Lage (35th), not helped by the still confused tactical choices of Antoine Kombouaré, they did not succeed in looking up.
However, there is urgency: after counting up to ten points ahead of the red zone, the Nantes residents are now 17th on equal points with Strasbourg (32 pts), which they will receive on Sunday before going to find Toulouse. , their executioners at the Stade de France (5-1), next week.
Kombouaré had taken the lead on Monday, ensuring that three wins would be enough in the last six matches. But his speech passes less and less, with his players as with his president Waldemar Kita. And nothing says that Beaujoire will remain comprehensive on Sunday.
Air for Brest
The Brestois, on the other hand, give themselves some air and confirm their current good momentum, going up to 14th place (35 pts). With the added bonus of a victory over their pet peeve, since they had not beaten Nantes since 2010 and had suffered a tough 4-1 in October at La Beaujoire.
Wednesday evening, the Canaries gave the illusion for a few minutes, but the pace quickly slowed down and after less than a quarter of an hour, the Brest waves began to break.
And it didn’t take much to make Lafont give in, yet so often impassable. Advancing to the edge of his area for a release without pressure, the goalkeeper missed his gesture, stumbled and left Le Douaron, in ambush, to adjust in the empty goal (1-0, 18th).
And faced with Canaries suddenly overwhelmed, unable to find themselves on the ground, the Brestois doubled the bet thanks to an uncrossed header from Pereira Lage, not worried in the box, on a cross from Kenny Lala (2-0, 35th) .
Already three times in their four previous matches, the Canaries had been trailing 2-0 in the first period: they had rebelled in time to snatch a 2-2 draw against Monaco, too late at Auxerre (2-1) and not at all against Toulouse (5-1).
Kombouaré has “the strength and the energy” to keep Nantes
In Brest, the entry of Ludovic Blas, captain in distress on Saturday left on the bench at kick-off, put them back in the direction of travel. The attacking midfielder even quickly put Marco Bizot to work with two strikes (52nd and 54th).
Then the Brest goalkeeper had to work against Mostafa Mohamed (58th, 78th) and Florent Mollet in added time. But that was not enough, and the Yellow and Green defense still had to work hard to avoid seeing the Brestois, pushed by a full and enthusiastic stadium, further increase the bill.
There are five matches left and three have to be won. (Assured to remain coach for these matches?) I have the energy, I have the strength, I really want. It will be interesting to see if we are capable, if we are strong. I am ready (…). I have confidence in my work, in my group, in my players. I know that on June 4, we will be in Ligue 1. Of course, today it’s complicated, it’s hard, but we’re not sick. I believe in it, otherwise I won’t be here. Players believe it too. They are in difficulty but they are not affected, we are not beaten down. If we were down, after our first period we could take six goals. »