Two former Schalke players were in the spotlight in the French Ligue 1 on Sunday. One saw the red card, the other scored the winning goal.
In the French Ligue 1, SCO Angers won 1-0 against OGC Nice on Sunday. The focus was on two players who used to be under contract with FC Schalke 04: Jean-Clair Todibo on Nice’s side and Nabil Bentaleb for the visitors from Angers.
First, Todibo, who was on loan to S04 for six months in the second half of the 2019/20 season, came into focus. Only nine seconds had elapsed before the 22-year-old central defender knocked over his opposite number Abdallah Sima. The referee judged the tackle to be an emergency stop and issued a red card. Since data collection began, no player has ever been sent off earlier – a memorable record for Todibo.
Bentaleb made more positive headlines. The 27-year-old, who had left Schalke in the summer of 2021 after five years marked by side noises, namely shot Angers to victory. Shortly before half-time, he scored with a shot from the half-circle in the right-hand corner of the penalty area.
Both Bentaleb and Todibo are set in their teams this season. Bentaleb even wore the captain’s armband of the SCO at times. By the way, they never stood together on the pitch for Schalke. Shortly after Todibo arrived in January 2020, Bentaleb was loaned to Newcastle United.
And Amine Harit was also in action on this eighth matchday of Ligue 1. The Moroccan was loaned to Olympique Marseille shortly before the end of the last transfer period. With his team, he did not manage more than a 1-1 draw against Stade Rennes. Harit was in the starting eleven and was substituted after 73 minutes. Schalke will also have watched this closely. If the 25-year-old plays at least 15 games for OM, he will have to be bought next summer. In the meantime, Harit has already made five appearances for the French side.