On Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 February 2025, Matchday 18 of Luxembourg’s top-flight men’s football championship, the BGL Ligue, took place, offering a weekend full of exciting fixtures.

League leaders FC Differdange 03 extended their unbeaten run to three matches with a home victory over US Mondorf-les-Bains, who currently sit seventh in the standings. The hosts were without their key playmaker, Guillaume Trani, due to minor physical concerns. Trani had been instrumental in the second half of the season, contributing a two goals and an assist, as well as playing a crucial role in the only goal of Differdange’s previous win against F91 Dudelange.

Nevertheless, the reigning champions managed well without their playmaker, as captain Geoffrey Franzoni broke the deadlock midway through the first half, firing past Mondorf’s goalkeeper to put Differdange ahead.

Immediately after the break, Senegalese forward André Mendy found the net for the second consecutive match. Juan Bedouret played a pivotal role, first providing the assist for Mendy’s goal before winning a penalty ten minutes later, which the striker confidently converted. The 3:0 scoreline remained unchanged until the final whistle, securing another three points for Differdange, who maintain their position at the top with a ten-point lead over F91 Dudelange.

Title contenders F91 Dudelange secured an important comeback victory away at FC Rodange 91, winning 3:1. Despite conceding first, captain Samir Hadji stole the show with a hat-trick, sealing three points for the visitors. This marked the second time this season that the centre-forward has netted three goals in a BGL Ligue match. His tally now stands at ten goals for the 2024/2025 campaign.

After Matchday 18, Swift Hesperange and UNA Strassen are tied for third place. Hesperange dropped points for a second consecutive away match, following a draw with Mondercange with another stalemate - this time a thrilling 3:3 encounter against AS La Jeunesse d'Esch/Alzette. Despite Hesperange coming from behind twice, Ambroise Gboho secured a crucial point for Hesperange with an 89th-minute equaliser after came on from the bench in the second half.

This result allowed UNA Strassen to climb into joint-third. They edged out Racing FC Union Luxembourg away from home, with Daryl Myre scoring the only goal of the game. Racing, who entered the second half of the season in third place, have now suffered three consecutive 0:1 defeats, dropping to fifth place.

With Swift Hesperange and UNA Strassen both on 35 points, Racing FC Union Luxembourg and Progrès Niederkorn now share fifth and sixth places with 33 points each.

Matchday 18 results:

Racing FC Union Luxembourg - Una Strassen 0:1

FC Rodange 91 - F91 Dudelange 1:3 

FC Wiltz 71 - CS Fola Esch-Alzette 4:1

AS La Jeunesse d'Esch/Alzette - Swift Hesperange 3:3

FC Mondercange - US Hostert 2:4

Victoria Rosport - Progrès Niederkorn 0:0

FC Differdange 03 - US Mondorf-les-Bains 3:0

SC Bettembourg - Union Titus Pétange 1:3

Matchday 19 of the BGL Ligue will take place on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 March 2025.

IK