The View From France

Jean-Pierre Thiesset summarizes the 16th round of the 2022/23 D1 Arkema season. Plus, an exclusive photo gallery of Ellie Carpenter during Olympique Lyonnais versus Bordeaux game in the 15th round.

Above: Sara Däbritz after scoring Olympique Lyonnais’ first goal from Eugénie Le Sommer’s pass. Photo: Olympique Lyonnais.

National Team News

Corinne Diacre, head coach of the French national side, was fired the Thursday before this weekend of games. This followed the stand taken by Wendie Renard (Lyon), Marie-Antoinette Katoto (PSG), and Kadidiatou Diani (PSG). The new coach should be known next week. Gérard Prêcheur, current Paris Saint-Germain head coach (and formerly of Lyon), seems to be the leading candidate.

Round 16 Matches

Paris FC 2-0 Montpellier

With this win, Paris FC consolidated its third place in the standings and are now five points ahead of Fleury who lost to Lyon. However, the run for the third place is not finished as Paris FC must still play against their city rivals, Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon while Fleury has a potentially easier run in. Goals: Paris FC – Clara Matéo (1), Mathilde Bourdieu (33).

Fleury 1-2 Olympique Lyonnais

Lyon stopped Fleury’s run of eleven games undefeated and were close to keeping a fifth clean sheet in a row until a late, contentious penalty awarded for a somewhat dubious handball against Ellie Carpenter. Whilst the penalty was saved, Fleury netted the rebound. Carpenter continues her fine form and appears to be fully back from her injury and even seems better than before. Meanwhile, Selma Bacha gave notice that she is ready for Chelsea in the Champions League by delivering the decisive pass to set up Lindsey Horan to score. Goals: Lyon – Sara Däbritz (17), Lindsey Horan (81). Fleury – Léa Le Garrec (90+7).

Rodez 1-2 Le Havre

Le Havre look to have secured a mid-table finish in contrast to Rodez who have a fight to stay up. Again, the state of the pitch in Rodez was particularly poor. Goals: Le Havre – Silke Demeyere (23), Kelsey Araujo (83). Rodez – Solène Barbance (62).

Guingamp 2-0 Bordeaux

With their third win in a row, Guingamp continued to climb the table, in contrast to Bordeaux who have now lost four in a row and sit only one point ahead of Guingamp. Goals: Guingamp – Aïssata Traoré (29), Maiwen Renard (89).

Soyaux 1-1 Dijon

After five losses in a row, Soyaux earned a point but are still last in the table with only six points. It is looking less and less likely that they can save their place in D1 Arkema. Dijon, in 10^th and with twelve points, are in a slightly better position and will still hope to play in D1 Arkema next year. Goals: Soyaux – Fadimatou Aretouyap (77). Dijon – Léa Declercq (43).

Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 Reims

It was a difficult day for Reims who were dominated the first half during which PSG scored twice. Reims tried to react at the beginning of the second half and in the first twenty minutes played higher on the field but could not score. PSG then retook control and added scored two more goals. The standout performance was Kadidiatou Diani who was involved on 3 goals (2 decisive passes and 1 goal). Goals: Paris Saint-Germain – Kadidiatou Diani (11), Ramona Bachmann (16), Amalie Vangsgaard (65), Sandy Baltimore (76).

EXCLUSIVE ELLIE CARPENTER PHOTO GALLERY FROM OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS v BORDEAUX LAST WEEKEND:

by Jean-Pierre Thiesset for Impetus