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As Ligue 1 football returned following the international break, there were big wins for Nice and Toulouse as it stays tight at the top of the table.
Friday 14 October
Nice 2-0 Lyon Venue – Allianz Riviera
In an early season title clash, Nice came out on top against Lyon to continue their unbeaten run.
Les Aiglons’ intentions were clear shortly after kick-off when they took the lead through Paul Baysse after five minutes. Jean Michael Seri’s free-kick found Baysse at the back post and he volleyed home the opener.
Just as Lyon were getting back into the game they suffered a setback before the half-hour mark when Nabil Fekir was dismissed for a challenge on Baysse, reducing Les Gones’ attacking threat.
Despite being a man light, Lyon continued to push and went close on a number of occasions with Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Corentin Tolisso and Rachid Ghezzal all going close. Nice made sure of the points with less than a quarter of an hour to play; Younes Belhanda’s effort struck the post but the rebound fell kindly for Seri who made it 2-0.
Nice’s lead at the top of the league is now four points, but Lyon have dropped to 8th and are already ten points behind the leaders.
Toulouse 3-1 Monaco Venue – Stadium Municipal
The strong form of Toulouse continued on Friday evening as they dealt a big blow to Monaco at the Stadium Municipal.
The visitors were in the driving seat as they took the lead in the third minute; Valere Germain headed Gabriel Boschilia’s free-kick home. What happened in the second half however shocked Leonardo Jardim’s men.
Danijel Subasic kept Monaco in the game but Les Pitchouns eventually found the breakthrough when Oscar Trejo scored from close range in the 65th-minute. Martin Braithwaite stole the show in the latter stages, converting twice from inside the area in the 84th and 87th to steal all three points and complete the comeback.
Toulouse have now closed the gap on Monaco to just two points, as they sit 4th and 3rd respectively.
Saturday 15 October
Nancy 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain Venue – Stade Marcel Picot
Two early goals from PSG were enough to seal the victory at the Stade Marcel Picot as the champions saw off Nancy.
Just 13 minutes had passed when Lucas Moura opened the scoring; a free-kick that no-one got on the end of found its way Guy N’dy Assembe in the hosts’ goal. Les Parisians added a second five minutes later when Edinson Cavani calmly lobbed the goalkeeper.
Nancy pulled a goal back ten minutes into the second half to scare PSG; Alou Diarra rose highest to send a strong header past Alphonse Areola.
PSG climbed to 2nd as they lie in wait of Nice’s first slip-up of the campaign, while Nancy remain bottom of the table after suffering three successive defeats for the second time this season.
Bastia 1-2 Angers Venue – Stade Armand Cesari
A brace from Famara Diedhiou saw Angers take all three points at the Stade Armand Cesari.
He scored his first midway through the first period with a right-footed effort, but Angers were pegged back moments before half-time when Thievy Bifouma levelled the scores.
It didn’t take long after the restart for Angers to retake the lead; Senegal striker Diedhiou fired home from close range and the visitors held on for the win.
This result meant Angers overtook Bastia in the league standings as the teams are now 10th and 14th in the table.
Guingamp 1-0 Lille Venue – Stade du Roudourou
Another poor result for Lille means it’s now five defeats in the last six outings after they lost at Guingamp on Saturday.
In a game of few chances, Guingamp took their first opportunity just after the half-hour mark when Jimmy Briand teed up Sloan Privat to break the deadlock.
Eder looked most likely to equalise for Les Dogues, but Guingamp created more chances and both Yannis Salibur and Briand forced saves from Vincent Enyeama.
Guingamp now take up the surprise position of 5th in the league, while Lille are in the even more surprising place of 18th.
Lorient 1-2 Nantes Venue – Stade du Moustoir
Nantes have achieved successive victories for the first time this season as they came out on top against Lorient at the Stade du Moustoir.
Remy Riou performed heroics in the Nantes goal to keep out a deflected Vincent Le Goff effort, and this proved to be a vital save as Les Canaris took the lead just before the break through Yacine Bammou.
Guillaume Gillet ensured the three points were in Nantes’ sights as he made it 2-0 in the 74th-minute. Pierre-Yves Hamel came on to mark his league debut with a goal for Lorient, but was no more than a consolation as the visitors held on for the victory.
Nantes climbed up to 13th as a result, leaving Lorient struggling in 19th.
Montpellier 3-2 Caen Venue – Stade de la Mosson
There was a five-goal thriller at the Stade de la Mosson as Montpellier beat Caen 3-2, with Casimir Ninga scoring his fifth goal in two games for the hosts.
The hosts raced out of the blocks as Ninga opened the scoring within two minutes, converting Ryad Boudebouz’s through ball. The lead lasted no more than six minutes though as Alaeddine Yahia headed home the leveller from a free-kick.
La Paillade had to wait until the 65th-minute to retake the lead when Ninga turned provider, crossing for Steve Mounie to convert with his head. Again, Caen fought back quickly and were back on level terms just four minutes later with an Ivan Santini lob.
Goal scorer Mounie was sent off for a second bookable offence but this didn’t seem to hinder Montpellier, who took the lead for the third time with Ninga getting on the score sheet once again.
It was an important win for the hosts as they moved up to 15th in the table, level on points with Caen in 16th.
Sunday 16 October
Rennes 1-1 Bordeaux Venue – Roazhon Park
Rennes’ 100% record at home came to an end as Bordeaux came from behind to earn a point at Roazhon Park.
It looked as though the first half would finish goalless but an own goal from Bordeaux’s Diego Contento gave Rennes a half-time lead.
Les Girondins equalised in the 66th-minute; Nicolas Pallois scored his first goal of the season from a corner to earn his side a share of the spoils.
The two teams now sit side-by-side in the league standings, with Bordeaux having the upper hand in 6th place.
Saint-Étienne 1-1 Dijon Venue – Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
Saint-Étienne had to score another late goal to salvage a result, this time denying newly promoted Dijon what would have been a great victory.
Pierre Lees-Melou opened the scoring in the 22nd-minute, heading home Florent Balmont’s delivery to put the visitors ahead.
Just as it looked as though Dijon were heading for a much needed victory, Quentin Bernard brought down Loic Perrin to concede a 94th-minute penalty. Nolan Roux scored from the spot to sink Dijon hearts and there was further punishment for the visitors as Cedric Varrault was shown a straight red for arguing with the referee.
The point keeps Saint-Étienne in the top half of the table; in 9th, while Dijon remain 17th after surrendering the three points.
Marseille 1-0 Metz Venue – Stade Vélodrome
Marseille earned a vital three points in the final match of the weekend, but Les Olympiens are still behind Metz in the league as one point separates the sides in 12th and 11th respectively.
A Bafetimbi Gomis strike was all Marseille needed to claim the victory. The Frenchman put the hosts ahead with a close range effort in the 13th-minute.
Metz’s best chance of the game was a Mevlut Erdinc header that failed to hit the target, but Marseille looked more likely to find the net again.
The visitors can thank their goalkeeper Thomas Didillon for keeping them within one goal of Marseille; he stopped Clinton N’Jie from scoring and also denied Gomis a second in a one-on-one.
