Ligue 1 Weekend Review

Result of the week to Montpellier, for their beatdown of Stade Rennais.

This weekend saw a number of clubs maintain statistical dominance yet fail to find the full 3 points.

Several matches saw managers rewarded on key substitutions with well-taken goals, while others found superstars frustrated in front of goal.

The result of the week goes to Montpellier HSC, who absolutely destroyed Stade Rennais 4-0 in what can only be described as a stunning result. I had predicted that this would be the match where Montpellier would come back down to earth, but they maintained their excellent form to start their campaign.

Saturday, August 20th:

Bordeaux 1-1 Auxerre – In a match that featured temperatures topping 102F, both clubs seemed content to pick their moments of action in a bid to conserve energy. Auxerre proved to be more efficient in that strategy, holding less possession (44%, compared to 56% for Bordeaux), taking fewer shots (8 to 14) and earning fewer corners (only 1, while Les Girondins were awarded 10), yet still coming away with the shared points. There were early chances from Jaroslav Plasil and Anthony Modeste, with the latter latching onto a poor clearance from Auxerre GK Olivier Sorin (0:30 mark in the video). The opening goal came in the 23rd minute when when Benoit Tremoulinas fed Plasil, whose cross was sent home by an ecstatic Yoan Gouffran (1:10 mark in the video). Shortly after the restart Gouffran missed a chance at a brace when he put his shot wide, and the follow-up from Modeste that hit the back of the net was correctly ruled out for offsides (3:10 mark in the video). The equalizer arrived in the 66th minute when Delvin Ndinga dribbled through the defense, very much against the run of play, and fed Alain Traore (4:15 mark in the video) for the finish. Bordeaux had a final chance to secure the full points, but Mickael Ciani was turned away by Sorin.

Brest 1-1 Lyon – This was the 3rd draw in a row for Lyon, which was the deserved result based on their relatively poor effort. Brest struck first, when in the 12th minute a cross from Bruno Grougi was flicked on by Romain Poyet for Benoit Lesoimier to send home off the post (0:10 mark in the video). Larsen Toure and Nolan Roux, who has once again begun to demonstrate his fine form of the early 2010/2011 season, drew saves from Lyon netminder Hugo Lloris, who was busier than he would have liked. Les Gones seemed in trouble in the 61st minute when Bakary Kone received a straight RC for a bad tackle on Roux, but that seemed to provide motivation as the 69th minute saw the equalizer when Bafe Gomis finished off a pass from Miralem Pjanic.

Caen 1-2 Lille – Les Dogues finally got the performance that they have been looking for, dominating this match from start to finish and putting 11 shots (of 17 total) on frame. Once again it was Caen GK Alexis Thebaux who kept his side from being embarrassed, as he was called upon early to turn away efforts from Moussa Sow (who sent his shot straight at the netminder), Eden Hazard and Florent Balmont. The beleaguered keeper was also aided by the woodwork, as Balmont and Dimitri Payet both hit the crossbar. Despite their offensive pressure, Lille didn’t open the scoring until the 69th minute when Benoit Pedretti finished off an excellent cross from Hazard. The former turned provider in the 88th minute, racing down the right and then sending in a cross that was sent home by Mathieu Debuchy. Caen were briefly given hope in the 90th minute when a Ludovic Obraniak handball in the area resulted in a PK that was finished by Benjamin Nivet, but it was too late for the comeback.

Dijon 2-0 Lorient – Les Merlus will be left confused by the results of this match, coming away with no points and no goals despite holding 67% of the possession, earning 13 corners and taking 24 shots (albeit, with only 6 of those on frame). They were on the back foot almost immediately, when Gregory Thil volleyed home a cross from Thomas Guerbert in just the 3rd minute. That shocked Lorient, who began to press immediately, but newly-deputized Dijon netminder Baptiste Reynet was equal to efforts from Mathias Autret and Julien Quercia. Lorient must have been licking their lips in anticipation in the 42nd minute when Abdoulaye Meite received a straight RC for a bad tackle on Quercia (with referee Nicolas Rainville changing his mind after initially showing the YC once he saw the extent of the injury to Quercia, who had to be substituted). Still, they were unable to break through, with Reynet denying Autret and Yann Jouffre. The deflating result was secured in the 88th minute when a bad clearance from Lorient GK Fabien Audard was latched onto by Brice Jovial for the clinical finish.

Nice 1-1 Toulouse – In what proved to be one of the best matches of the weekend (despite only 4 shots on frame between the two clubs), Toulouse needed a last-gasp goal to share the points. In the 16th minute Franck Tabanou hit the post, and the follow-up by Moussa Sissoko was denied by Nice GK David Ospina. The opening goal came in the 31st minute when a corner from Camel Meriem was headed on by Renato Civelli, with Anthony Mounier finding the back of the net during a goalmouth scramble. Although the action was well-paced, the next chance didn’t come until right before the break, with Didier Digard denied by Toulouse GK Ali Ahamada. The second half was more of the same, with the first good opportunity coming in the 78th minute as a cross/shot from Paulo Machado was saved by Ospina. Nice should have been up 2-0 in the 85th minute on a header from Mounier, but he was incorrectly ruled offside. The equalizer came in the 90th minute when Adrien Regattin (a 60th-minute substitution) lashed home a shot. Things degenerated in stoppage time, with Amadou Soukouna receiving a YC in the 92nd minute for dissent, followed by a 2nd YC in the 94th minute for a bad challenge on Mounier. Nice were then given the chance to take the full points in the 96th minute when Nemanja Pejcinovic was fouled in the area by Pantxi Sirieix, but Eric Mouloungui sent the resulting PK straight at Ahamada. [The highlights are only 2 minutes, so do yourself a favor and watch the whole thing]

Ajaccio 1-1 Evian – In the potential relegation 6-pointer, Evian dominated the action but needed a late goal to share the points. Ajaccio opened the scoring in the 7th minute when Frederic Sammaritano (easily their best player) finished off a pass from Johan Cavalli (0:00 mark in the video). Evian were denied shouts for a PK when Sidney Govou went down in the box (1:20 mark in the video), and the physical nature of the play resulted in semi-handbags between Yannick Sagbo and Anthony Lippini (with Cavalli also inserting himself into the action) at the end of the half (2:20 mark in the video), making it necessary for referee Said Ennjimi to give the naughty children a talking-to in the dressing room. The equalizer came in the 75th minute from Kevin Berigaud (3:50 mark in the video), a 73rd-minute substitution, but Ajaccio GK Guillermo Ochoa made a fine save late to prevent the collapse (5:00 mark in the video).

Sunday, August 21st:

Montpellier 4-0 Rennes – Hey, remember when I predicted a 0-2 victory for Rennes? Yeah, me either. Montpellier made quite the statement by winning their 3rd match to begin the campaign, running rampant over a flustered Stade Rennais. Perhaps they had their blood pumping from the training ground dust-up [French link] between John Utaka (who started the match) and Abdelhamid El-Kaoutari (who remained on the bench for the entirety). Perhaps Rennes were worn out from their 2-1 Europa League victory on Thursday against Red Star Belgrade, or were distracted by Arsenal’s pursuit of midfielder Yann M’Vila. Whatever the cause, things began poorly when Garry Bocaly was brought down in the area by Rennes GK Benoit Costil in the 30th minute, with Younes Belhanda finishing off the resulting PK. Geoffrey Dernis found the back of the net in the 52nd minute after Julien Feret had been dispossessed in the midfield, while Souleymane Camara bagged a brace with efforts in the 72nd and 80th minutes. [Highlights are 1:00 long; watch the whole thing you lazy git]

szólj hozzá: Montpellier v Rennes 4:0 GOALS

Nancy 1-2 Sochaux – Les Lionceaux showed no negative effects of their difficult 0-0 draw against Metalist Kharkiv in the Europa League on Thursday, matching Nancy well in a frenzied period of 15 minutes in the 2nd half. In the 53rd minute a corner from Ryad Boudebouz was punched out by Nancy GK Damien Gregorini, only to be volleyed home by Mathieu Peybernes (video below). Sloan Privat headed home a free-kick from Marvin Martin for the 2-0 lead, but Nancy pulled a goal back in the 67th minute when Carlao received a straight RC for fouling Paul Alo’o Efoulou and Youssouf Hadji finished off the resulting PK. Nancy dominated most of the remainder of the match, with Sochaux GK Tedy Richert making an excellent save on a close-range shot from Alo’o Efoulou in the 75th minute.

Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 Valenciennes – A favorable match-up on paper for PSG proved to be more difficult than anticipated, but in the end the home supporters went home happy as their new signings were instrumental in the victory. In the 10th minute Jeremy Menez and Mathieu Bodmer combined for some good work, but the finish was lacking as Kevin Gameiro sent his shot over the crossbar. Menez continued to work hard, thrilling gaffer Antoine Kombouare with his brilliant effort, and it paid dividends in the 39th minute when his pass found Gameiro for the clinical finish. The capital club were disappointed in first-half stoppage-time to see Remi Gomis head home a cross from Renaud Cohade for the equalizer, but they came out with renewed vigor after the break. The crowd provided an excellent welcome for record signing Javier Pastore when he was brought on as a 57th-minute substitute, but the youngster still appears tentative in his play with his teammates. The match-winner came in the 64th minute on a seemingly-harsh decision for a handball on David Ducourtioux, with Nene sending home the resulting PK. [Highlights are only 2 minutes long; watch them]

szólj hozzá: PSG vs Valenciennes 2:1 GOALS

Marseille 0-0 Saint-Etienne – In another puzzler, Marseille ran roughshod over Saint-Etienne, holding 60% of the possession and taking 15 shots (compared to only 3 for Les Verts) but were unable to secure the full points. ASSE GK Stephane Ruffier was kept busy early, turning away Lucho Gonzalez and Loic Remy, while watching Alou Diarra send a shot spiralling over the crossbar. The half ended with a shot from Andre Ayew that went barely wide of the mark, and Les Verts started off the 2nd half with a bit more pressure. The 56th minute saw a shot from Bakary Sako hit the crossbar and bounce down agonizingly just in front of the goalline to deny Saint-Etienne, and his cheeky backheel in the 73rd minute was cleared off the line by OM defender Julio N’Koulou. The momentum switched again, with a header from Andre-Pierre Gignac denied by Ruffier, but in spite of a man-advantage after Jean-Pascal Mignot received a 2nd YC for a bad tackle on Diarra, Marseille were unable to capitalize.

So, after Matchday 3 we have:
Top 4: (1) Montpellier (9 points, +7 GD); (2) Toulouse (7 points, +4 GD); (3) Saint-Etienne (7 points, +2); (4) Caen (6 points; +1 GD)
GSTGC award: Mathieu Debuchy (Lille)
Correct Friday preview results predictions: 1 out of 3 (Caen v. Lille)
Correct Friday preview scores predictions: 1 out of 3 (Caen 1-2 Lille)