Strasbourg beats Nice in Ligue 1 and extends its unbeaten run to 10 matches
PARIS (AP) — Without its top striker, Strasbourg extended its unbeaten run in all competitions to 10 matches with a 3-1 win over Nice in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
Joaquín Panichelli tore his right ACL while training with Argentina last week and underwent surgery on Thursday. He will miss the World Cup and maybe the start of next season, too. Panichelli leads the French league with 16 goals.
In his absence, winger Martial Godo and Samir El-Mourabet delighted the home fans to keep eighth-placed Strasbourg in contention for a European spot.
Godo hit the crossbar after 24 minutes and broke the deadlock soon after with another header into the far corner. They went into halftime 3-0 ahead after scores from midfielders Julio Enciso and El-Mourabet, the latter striking a beautiful half-volley from outside the box.
After dribbling past the Nice goalkeeper to make it 2-0, Enciso put on a jersey emblazoned with the name Panichelli before celebrating his goal in front of the Strasbourg fans.
More good news for Strasbourg was the sight of captain Emanuel Emegha, who will join Chelsea next season, returning from a four-month injury layoff when he went on in the 77th.
Defender Antoine Mendy pulled one back in the 82nd for Nice, which slumped to a 15th defeat. Strasbourg and Nice will face off again in the French Cup semifinals on April 22.
Leader Paris Saint-Germain increased its lead to four points on Friday after Ousmane Dembélé scored twice in a 3-1 win against Toulouse. The game was brought forward to give PSG more recovery time ahead of next Wednesday’s Champions League quarterfinal with Liverpool.
The result lifted PSG four points clear of Lens, which travelled to fifth-placed Lille later Saturday for the Derby du Nord.
7-goal thriller in Brittany
Rennes won a spectacular encounter at Brest 4-3. Esteban Lepaul scored twice from the penalty spot including the winner.
The visitors came from behind after Junior Dina Ebimbe also had a brace for Brest.
Lepaul netted the winner from the spot in the 74th. Goalkeeper Grégoire Coudert dived the right way but couldn’t get enough touch to stop the strike.
Rennes rose to sixth place, just two points behind third-placed Marseille.
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