Ligue 1 – Round Two

September 9, 2016

Paris Saint-Germain       1-1      Saint-Etienne

Lucas Moura 67’                          Robert Beric 90’+3

It is two winless matches in a row for Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. Paris Saint-Germain has set the domestic record high for fans to expect them to only ease up after they are done winning the season.

New management is looking to have new troubles. Most PSG fans were waiting for their battles to start in the UEFA Champions League, but it looks like there might be some work cut out for the team in the domestic league. The title defense might have some surprises this year.

After a goalless first half, Lucas Moura’s 67th-minute penalty goal was looking to settle things for PSG. After losing to Monaco in their previous match, a win was needed to get the defending champions back on track.

Robert Beric made the hard defensive work of Saint-Etienne pay off when he grabbed a late equalizer three minutes into injury time. Beric seemed to have been allowed plenty of time to settle an attempt a shot on goal. PSG’s goalkeeper Kevin Trapp could have done better to get his hands on the ball.   

It might be a slow start for Paris Saint-Germain, but it is not a fatal one. They are a lot of matches left in the season for the team to make grounds. At the moment, the worst scenario will be 3 points behind the league leaders. That is a win that PSG can afford.

On the neutral side, this adds to the interest of the French Ligue 1. And we are loving it!

September 10, 2016

Lyon                        1-3                    Bordeaux

Aldo Kalulu 2’                                 Malcom 33’

                                                           Gregory Sertic 72’

                                                           Jeremy Menez 90’

Lyon gave up an early lead against Bordeaux to go on and lose by two goals.After Paris Saint-Germain slip up against Saint-Etienne, this was the perfect opportunity for other title favorites to rise to the occasion and grab maximum points from their matches. Lyon failed to capitalize on the opportunity.

After Aldo Kalulu put Lyon up a goal in the 2nd minute, it was easy to think the home team would make their advantage count and go on and make it an easy game.  Bordeaux had other ideas. Malcom equalized for Bordeaux in the 33rd minute to send the match to the half at a 1-1 scoreline. Gregory Sertic scored the winner for Bordeaux in the 72nd minute. Maxime Gonalons was sent off in the 67th minute to leave Lyon numerically disadvantage against Bordeaux.

Both sides had won two of their first three matches and lost one. Lyon were favorites because of home advantage and their accomplishment in the previous season.

Angers                        3-1     Dijon

Famara Diedhiou 15’          Frederic Sammaritano 8’

Cheikh Ndoye 67’

Karl Toko Ekambi 75’

Newly promoted Dijon was another Ligue 1 team to give up an early lead and lose their match.

Dijon’s failure to hold on to their lead gave Angers their first win on the season. Both teams are sitting around the relegation area on the table, with Dijon having the better goals difference.

Guingamp                    1-1     Montpellier

Marcus Regis Coco 36’          Morgan Sanson 10’

Guingamp maintained their undefeated start to their Ligue 1 season by coming from a goal down to get a point from their home match against Montpellier.

Bastia                                     2-1     Toulouse

Abdoulaye Diallo Sadio 21’          Martin Braithwaite 68’

Pierre Bengtsson 83’

Toulouse suffered their first defeat of the season away to Bastia. A late goal from Pierre Bengtsson was the decider. Martin Braithwaite brought Toulouse back into the match with his 68th-minute equalizer after Abdoulaye Diallo Sadio had given Bastia a lead in the first half.

Lille                          1-4   Monaco

Julien Palmieri 90’        Djibril Sidibe 2’

                                          Adama Traore 17’

                                          Fabinho 47’

                                          Kamil Glik 71’

After handing Paris Saint-Germain their first defeat of the season, Monaco took advantage of PSG slip on Friday against Saint-Etienne and unleashed a whipping on Lille. It was a win the shot them up to the top of the table.

Monaco and Guingamp are the only teams in Ligue 1 that are yet to lose a match.

Lorient            0-2     Nancy

                                     Youssef Ait Bennasser 32’

                                    Maurice Junior Dale 89’

Nancy got their first win of the season from another struggling side, Lorient. Both teams came into the match having lost every match they had played in the 2016/17 Ligue 1 season. It was a great opportunity for these sides to grab a win.

Lorient being the home side and Nancy being newly promoted made Lorient the favorite before kickoff. But it was Nancy that would come out on top after getting a goal in each half.  

September 11, 2016

Nantes        0-3              Metz

                                          Mevlut Erdinc 18’, 45’+3, 78’

It is three consecutive losses in a row for Nantes.

Mevlut Erdinc scored a hattrick to give newly promoted FC Metz an away win at Nantes. Two goals in the first half and a goal in the second ensured that FC Metz continues their amazing start to the 2016/17 Ligue 1 season.

Rennes            2-0     Caen

Wesley Said 47’

Sanjin Prcic 90’+3

Rennes moved up to the table after their second win of the season. Two second half goals gave them the win at home over Caen.

Nice                                   3-2                    Marseille

Mario Balotelli 7’(pen) 78’                       Florian Thauvin 14’

Wylan Cyprien 87’                                    Bafetimbi Gomis 73’

Nice had to come from a goal down after giving up their head start to win against Marseille. Nice sits up on the table with Monaco after handing Marseille their second defeat of the season.