Football

Strasbourg swat aside Monaco as they set their sights on Europe


Even though Monaco are still struggling to find their feet under Robert Moreno – and were playing with a midfield three of Tiémoué Bakayoko, Aleksandr Golovin, and Cesc Fabregas – Strasbourg’s performance on Saturday evening suggests they may be back to their best. Given the state of the Monaco defence, we should not anoint Thierry Laurey’s side as Champions League contenders just yet. But a 3-1 victory at the Stade Louis II is an impressive result – and they could easily have won by a wider margin.

Strasbourg have won four of their last five league matches and are now up to eighth in the table, just three points behind fourth-place Montpellier. With matches against bottom side Toulouse and struggling Reims in the next few weeks, their impressive record may continue to improve. The European places are within their grasp.

Laurey has evolved this team with subtly this season, while also weathering recent injuries to Lébo Mothiba, Nuno Da Costa and the versatile Anthony Caci. Strasbourg played an expansive 3-5-2 last season, with right-sided wing-back Kenny Lala the star man and veteran central midfielder Dimitri Liénard adding creativity.

Laurey has used that formation occasionally this season, but on Saturday he employed a midfield diamond, with Alexander Djiku repurposed as a defensive midfielder. Playing with a diamond gave Laurey’s men a numerical advantage in midfield while also making the most of the dynamism of Ibrahima Sissoko and Youssouf Fofana, whose eager running made Strasbourg effective on the counter. With Djiku screening the centre-back pairing of Lamine Koné and Stefan Mitrovic, and Sissoko also breaking up play, Strasbourg were able to cut their opponents to ribbons. The player who did most of that cutting was Adrien Thomasson, who bossed the match.

Thomasson grew up in the town of Bourg in the French Alps and began his career at Evian, where he shone at a young age. When Evian were relegated from Ligue 1 in 2015, he moved to Nantes, but it was a not a great fit. He was often played out wide by Michel Der Zakarian and Claudio Ranieri, managers who emphasised graft over technical.

Thomasson clearly had talent but, by the time he signed for Strasbourg on a free transfer in the summer of 2018, it seemed like a rather desperate move. The club had only just survived in Ligue 1 that season, finished one point above the relegation play-off place. However, he has found a kindred spirit in Laurey, a manager who values talent and flair, so long as players are willing to combine these qualities with hard work. Laurey has almost always used Thomasson centrally and his performances clearly reflect the wisdom of this decision. Thomasson was brilliant against Monaco on Saturday. He scored one goal and was only denied a second by a superb stop from Benjamin Lecomte.

Thomasson has developed a strong relationship with Ludovic Ajorque, a hulking striker who boasts a deceptively refined touch. Against Monaco he was also helped by the winger Kévin Zohi, whose pace and ability to stretch play make him the ideal foil for a more physical partner, be it Ajorque or Mothiba. Zohi is still only 22 and his integration into the first team has been fitful owing to injury, but on Saturday he showed how much his unselfish running can complement the more direct play of his teammates.

Ajorque is another unsung, late-blooming star. He was signed 18 months ago from second-tier Clermont to operate as an archetypal target man. Big strikers can struggle with the jump to top-tier football, but Ajorque has a nuanced style of play. He gets on the end of crosses, but he also has the technique to hold up the ball and bring in other players who are more fleet of foot.

Another thing stood out from the victory over Monaco. Strasbourg are good on the counter – and their opening goal came against the run of play – but they are more than willing to go toe-to-toe with sides who might hope to intimidate them. They have shown this ambition throughout their time back in the top flight.

Strasbourg had an uneven start to the season, as their thin squad struggled to adapt to the pressures of Ligue 1 and the Europa League qualifying rounds, but they are now a team worth following. The recent arrival of Majeed Waris, another player adept at stretching play, coupled with the return of Zohi, will give Laurey plenty of options in attack, only adding to the myriad ways in which he can set up his side.

Talking points

Neymar pays tribute to



Neymar pays tribute to Kobe Bryant after scoring for PSG against Lille Photograph: Denis Charlet/AFP via Getty Images

Sunday’s “grand choc” between PSG and Lille failed to live up to its billing. PSG opted to play their “Fantastic Four” of Mauro Icardi, Kylian Mbappé, Ángel Di María and Neymar – a tactic that had left them badly exposed against Monaco a fortnight ago. Lille won this fixture 5-1 last season, but they had little joy in attack this time around, failing to take advantage of uncharacteristically muted performances from Icardi and Mbappé. One player who was anything but muted was Neymar, who scored a superb curling opener before doubling the visitors’ lead from the spot. Now on 13 goals for the season, the Brazilian proclaimed himself to be “in his best form” – good news for PSG fans before the Champions League returns in a few weeks.

PSG’s win extended their lead over second-placed Marseille, who struggled in a goalless draw at home to Angers. Stéphane Moulin’s well-drilled sides are always difficult to break down, but the absence of the suspended Dimitri Payet dramatically underlined how bereft of attacking options André Villas Boas’ side is. Payet has been linked with a return to West Ham of late, but Marseille would be mad to sell him. He appears motivated by the chance of a possible recall to the national team for the Euros and looks sharp as ever despite his advancing age.

Finally, Maxwel Cornet celebrated his 200th match for Lyon by scoring the opening goal in their 3-0 win over Toulouse. His goal proved to be the vital breakthrough for the hosts, who had struggled to make much of their dominance to that point. Cornet is often lambasted for his lack of end product, but he has lined up on both wings and at left-back this season without complaint. He rarely lacks for effort, underscoring why he has continued to be a valued presence for the club some five years after he joined on a free from Metz.

Ligue 1 results

Lille 0-2 PSG
Nantes 0-1 Bordeaux
Lyon 3-0 Toulouse
Brest 2-2 Amiens
Monaco 1-3 Strasbourg
Montpellier 2-1 Dijon
Reims 0-1 Metz
St Etienne 2-1 Nîmes
Marseille 0-0 Angers
Nice 1-1 Rennes

Ligue 1 table

This is an article from Get French Football News
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