Ligue 1 Round Up: PSG Return To Form But An Incident At Amiens Overshadows The Action
Neymar put on a show in Ligue 1 this weekend while Lyon were involved in their second consecutive six-goal thriller and Claudio Ranieri’s Nantes kept marching on.
However, all of this was overshadowed by a terrible incident at Amiens.
Find out more and all the rest of the action in this Ligue 1 round up.
Friday
Monaco 1-1 Montpellier
The weekend started with second place Monaco dropping points thanks to a late Souleymane Camara goal.
There were chances aplenty for both sides in the early stages but Radamel Falcao gave the home side the lead in the 38th minute when he slid to convert Rony Lopes’ low cross.
However, Camara headed Montpellier level in the 92nd minute after Monaco repeatedly failed to clear their lines. The result leaves Leonardo Jardim’s side second while Montpellier occupy 13th, unbeaten in three.
Saturday
PSG 6-2 Bordeaux
PSG demolished Bordeaux to open up a gap at the top.
Neymar opened the scoring with five minutes played, scoring a delightful dipping free-kick from 35-yards.
The Brazilian then made the second seven minutes later as he played through Edinson Cavani to slot home.
Thomas Meunier side-footed home the third with 20 minutes gone but Younousse Sankhare tapped into the net with half an hour played to give Bordeaux hope.
That hope was quickly crushed as Neymar converted a penalty and Julian Draxler scored a brilliant volley from a Kylian Mbappe cross to make it 5-1 at half-time.
The young Frenchman got his goal just before the hour with a well-taken finish inside the penalty area.
Malcolm scored a penalty for the away side in injury time but it was an easy evening for the champions elect, who have opened up a three-point gap at the top. Bordeaux drop to 6th.
Amiens A-A Lille
A shocking incident meant no football was played at Stade de la Licorne. A barrier in the away end collapsed leaving seven fans in hospital, five of which are serious injuries. Everyone at By Far The Greatest Team sends their best wishes to those affected.
Dijon 1-1 Strasbourg
A game defined by late drama. Valentin Rosier played to the whistle in the 78th minute and his determined run from deep in midfield led to Kwon Chang-Hoon putting Dijon in in front but Cedric Yambere received a red card and Strasbourg took advantage.
A defensive mix-up from the home side allowed Martin Terrier to score an easy tap-in as the struggling sides remain in the same position as last week.
Guingamp 1-1 Toulouse
Another 1-1 draw, this time between Guingamp and Toulouse.
Marcus Thuram tapped the home side ahead with just two minutes played but Toulouse were level just before half-time when Wergiton Somalia beat Karl-Johan Johnsson to a long pass to lod the ball into the net.
The sides could not be separated from that point on and the spoils were shared. Both sides remain in mid-table.
Nantes 1-0 Metz
It was the lucky number three for Nantes as Emiliano Sala’s goal with three minutes played saw the side climb to fourth.
The Argetine tapped home inside the six-yard box from a rebound after a well-worked move.
That sealed all three points for Claudio Ranieri’s as the former Premier League winning boss continues his early success in France.
Another defeat means Metz stay rooted to the bottom of the table.
Rennes 0-1 Caen
It was a terrible day at the office for Rennes defender Ramy Bensebaini as his own goal gave Caen an impressive away win.
The Algerian was booked in the first minute before a shot ricocheted off his leg in the 34th to condemn his side to defeat.
Rennes stay 15th while Caen continue to show promise and climb to 5th.
Sunday
Troyes 2-1 Saint-Etienne
Two red cards and three goals made for an entertaining afternoon at the Stade de l’Aube.
The home side were down to 10 men in the 34th minute when Karim Azamoun was sent off but it didn’t stop them taking the lead through Bryan Pele’s far post finish.
Hernani equalised eight minutes into the second half, firing home a low shot from the edge of the area.
The score was level for just four minutes though as Saif-Edinne Khaoui curled home a superb free-kick to put Troyes in front once again.
Hernani was shown a red card in the 83rd minute as the home side saw out the win.
Troyes climb four places to 9th but Saint-Etienne drop to 7th.
Angers 3-3 Lyon
Last weekend’s six-goal thriller was followed up by another for Lyon as they drew with Angers.
Mariano Diaz’s scuffed effort trickled into the corner of the net with five minutes played to give the away side the lead but Angers hit back with half an hour gone.
Former Manchester United defender Rafael slid to block a cross but put the ball into his own net to bring the teams level, not for long as Lyon were back in front just eight minutes later, thanks to a towering Mouctar Diakhaby header.
42 minutes played and Lyon made it 3-1 as Memphis Depay slotted home a close-range rebound.
The games defining moment came five minutes into the second half as Lyon defender Marcelo knocked a yellow card out of referee Mikael Lesage’s hand and was immediately dismissed.
Angers took advantage as Karl Toko Ekambi made it two in two with a driving run and well-placed finish from the edge of the area to get them back in the game.
The away side finally drew level with 67 minutes gone as Ismael Traore made up for his own goal last weekend with a headed equaliser this.
The draw means Lyon drop a place to 8th and while Angers do the same and fall to 12th.
Nice 2-4 Marseille
What a brilliant game to end this weekend’s Ligue 1 action.
Nice were firing on all cylinders in the early stages and raced into an early lead when Mario Balotelli headed home from a corner before Jean Michael Seri fired into the bottom corner from long range.
Argentine Lucas Ocampos powerfully volleyed the away side back into the game just before the half-hour mark and then Pierre Lees-Melou put through his own net as he tried to defend a cross at the near post.
Ocampos secured his brace and gave OM the lead just a minute before half time as Luis Gustavo’s shot was too hot to handle for Yoan Cardinale in the Nice goal, allowing the winger to head into an empty net.
Brazilian midfielder Gustavo got in on the scoring act just minutes into the second half as he drove from deep and fired a shot into the bottom corner. His afternoon ended prematurely though as he was sent off in the 66nd minute.
Marseille held on for the win with what was an impressive comeback, seeing them climb to 3rd. Nice drop a place to 10th.
