Ligue 1 Review Gameweek 3

 

After just three games in the new Ligue 1 campaign there are already a number of twists and turns that could affect both ends of the table.

Friday 26 August

Marseille 2-0 Lorient Venue – Stade Vélodrome

Marseille got their first league win of the season at the third time of asking as they strode to a comfortable victory over Lorient on Friday.

Remy Cabella put the hosts ahead in the 19^th-minute with a well taken free-kick from 25 yards. Lorient did threaten to equalise but Cafu’s volley was kept out by Yohann Pele in Les Olympiens’ goal.

Bafetimbi Gomis was denied twice by Benjamin Lecomte in the first half but his persistence was rewarded after 70 minutes. The Frenchman was allowed space to run outside the box and he punished the visitors with a crisp strike into the bottom corner. Lorient’s third consecutive loss leaves them 19^th while Marseille’s first win takes them up to 11^th in the standings.

 

Saturday 27 August

Dijon 4-2 Lyon Venue – Stade Gaston Gérard

The shock of the weekend came at the Stade Gaston Gérard where Dijon came from behind twice before stunning Lyon to win 4-2.

After winning the opening two games without conceding a goal, Lyon looked to be heading in the right direction again when Corentin Tolisso put Les Gones in front on the 20^th-minute mark. It took Dijon less than five minutes to respond however; Frederic Sammaritano converted from the spot after Nicolas N’Koulou brought down Julio Tavares in the box.

Alexandre Lacazette got his name on the score sheet for the third game running shortly before half-time, but the celebrations soon turned to concern as he was forced off with an injury. Tavares was then rewarded for winning the early penalty by getting a goal for himself in first half stoppage time, heading past Anthony Lopes.

Dijon took control in the second period and went ahead through Dylan Bahamboula, before extending their lead minutes from the final whistle when Pierre Lees Melou curled in a fine effort to make it four. Lyon are just 4^th following the loss, just one point from the top of the table, but Dijon climb to 15^th.

Nancy 0-2 Guingamp Venue – Stade Marcel Picot

Guingamp capitalised on the misfortunes of the league’s elite to move to the top of the table following a victory at the Stade Marcel Picot, leaving Nancy rooted to the bottom of the league.

It wasn’t plain sailing for the visitors however, as Nancy struck the woodwork on three occasions before missing a late penalty when Youssouf Hadji sent his spot-kick wide of the post.

Goals from Mustapha Diallo and Thibault Giresse in the second period were enough for Guingamp to claim the three points though, meaning Nancy are still searching for their first goal and points this season.

Caen 2-0 Bastia Venue – Stade Michel d’Ornano

Caen ensured they got back to winning ways on Saturday by beating Bastia on home soil.

It was a fairly dominant performance from the home side as Yann Karamoh hit the post while Ivan Santini missed a penalty after being fouled by Mathieu Peybernes.

The opening goal came in the 63^rd-minute; Ronny Rodelin combined with Julien Feret before the latter broke the deadlock. All three points were secured in second half stoppage time when Rodelin turned provider once again to tee up Herve Bazile for the second. As a result, Caen sit 6^th in the league standings while Bastia are down in 16^th.

Metz 2-0 Angers Venue – Stade Saint-Symphorien

There was another triumph for a newly promoted side as Metz added further misery to Angers’ season with a win at the Stade Saint-Symphorien.

Summer signing Renaud Cohade’s set piece deliveries stole the show in this encounter as he provided the assists for both of Metz’s goals. The first of which was from a 40-yard free kick that picked out Simon Falette to head home the opener. Fellow centre-back Guido Milan then wrapped up the points in the latter stages in similar conditions, turning in another Cohade cross.

Angers may have equalised but for an unstoppable display by Metz goalkeeper Thomas Didillon; the Frenchman thwarted Giles Sunu, Karl Toko Ekambi, Cheikh N’Doye and Pablo Martinez. Angers remain 18^th in the table, while Metz’s second win of the campaign takes them up to 7^th.

 

Montpellier 1-1 Rennes Venue – Stade de la Mosson

Montpellier and Rennes couldn’t be separated at the Stade de la Mosson as the visitors came from behind to rescue a point.

Daniel Congre opened the scoring for La Paillade after just 22 minutes when he converted Ryad Boudebouz’s cross. They held onto the lead until the second half but couldn’t keep Rennes from levelling the scores; Benjamin Andre played in 20-year-old Adama Diakhaby and the youngster fired home the equaliser on his second league appearance.

Rennes nearly went in front midway through the second half but Romain Danze saw his header come back off the post. Both sides have four points with Rennes’ goal difference being superior, meaning they are 12^th, just ahead of Montpellier in 14^th.

Nice 1-1 Lille Venue – Allianz Riviera

Nice couldn’t keep up their perfect start to the campaign but they remain unbeaten after being held by Lille at the Allianz Riviera.

It took Les Aiglons just three minutes to break the deadlock and Vincent Koziello scored the opener after showing great strength before calmly slotting home. Lille levelled midway through the first half when Franck Beria finished with assurance following Yassine Benzia’s flick on.

There were chances for both sides to claim all three points but no winning goal came, meaning Nice finished the weekend in 3^rd while Lille are down in 13^th.

 

Sunday 28 August

Bordeaux 1-0 Nantes Venue – Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux

Bordeaux quickly recovered from the humiliation at Toulouse last weekend by beating Nantes at home on Sunday.

Diego Rolan scored the only goal of the game in the 31^st-minute; a close range effort to convert Jeremy Menez’s delivery.

Cedric Carrasso played his part in Les Girondins’ victory as well after denying Yacine Bammou and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson later in the match. Bordeaux’s second win of the campaign sees them move to 8^th, while Nantes drop to 17^th after being on the end of two successive losses.

Saint-Étienne 0-0 Toulouse Venue – Stade Geoffroy-Guichard

Saint-Étienne failed to capitalise on the slip-ups of their rivals as they were held to a goalless draw by an in-form Toulouse.

The two remain side-by-side in the league standings with the unbeaten Toulouse 9^th, one place above Les Verts.

The home side had the better chances to take the lead and applied pressure in the latter stages. Loanee Jordan Veretout came close to stealing the points in added time but his attempt was matched by Stephane Ruffier.

Monaco 3-1 Paris Saint-Germain Venue – Stade Louis II

Title rivals Monaco and PSG met at the Stade Louis II but it was the hosts who gave the reigning champions something to think about as they strode to a 3-1 victory.

The intentions of the hosts were clear after just 13 minutes when they raced into an early lead. Joao Moutinho was picked out by Djibril Sidibe in the box and the Portuguese international steered the ball past Kevin Trapp. Monaco stamped further authority on the game just before the interval; David Luiz brought down Jemerson in the penalty area and Fabinho converted the resulting spot-kick.

PSG did get back in the game in the second half when Serge Aurier’s header across goal found Edinson Cavani who found the net to reduce the deficit. Danijel Subasic kept the hosts in front by preventing Layvin Kurzawa from equalising and this proved pivotal as Monaco went on to add a third thanks to an Aurier own goal.

Monaco remain 2^nd in the table, only below Guingamp on alphabetical order, while PSG drop to 5^th.