Ligue 1 Weekend Review

PARIS, C'EST MAGIQUE!

This weekend continued the high-flying offense, as once again there were no scoreless draws.

The division between the two halves of the table is becoming clearer despite the early nature of the campaign, and one could be forgiven for already picking out the Top 4 and relegation contenders.

The result of the week goes to Paris Saint-Germain, who dominated title rivals Lyon in a 2-0 victory that demonstrates just how far the side has come in a relatively short period of time in its efforts to integrate a lot of new talent.

Saturday, October 1st:
Caen 1-1 Nice – Caen were dominant in this match, meaning that Nice GK David Ospina was the busier of the netminders, but the draw came as a result of two very late goals. The first arrived in the 80th minute when a Jean-Claude Jerry Vandam cross was cleared by Nice defender Renato Civelli only to fall at the feet of Pierre-Alain Frau for the rebound. After a 10-minute stoppage for a power failure, the equalizer came in the 89th minute when Eric Mouloungui was able to send home the rebound after a shot from Emerson Fae was denied.

Dijon 1-1 Ajaccio – The newcomers have both struggled a bit, although Dijon has looked the better side. That trend continued in this match, but despite their statistical dominance (57% of the possession, 18 shots with 7 on frame) they were unable to muster(d) the win. Ajaccio started more quickly, with Mehdi Mostefa (who has been a revelation so far this campaign) heading home a free-kick from Christian Kinkela in the 18th minute. The equalizer came in the 41st minute when Eric Bautheac found the back of the net on a strong free-kick, after which Ajaccio parked the bus. Brice Jovial had a chance to take the full points for Dijon but his volley was wide, and the match ended on a sour note as Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi received a straight RC in the 90th minute for stomping on the back of Benjamin Corgnet.

Lorient 2-0 Valenciennes – Les Merlus continued their strong start to season due to their Arsenal connection, with Joel Campbell (on loan to the side from the Gunners) and Jeremie Aliadiere (remember him?) doing most of the damage in this match. Campbell put Lorient on the front foot in the 22nd minute when he volleyed home a cross from Kevin Monnet-Paquet, after which the first half remained quiet until Gael Danic missed equalizing in the 45th minute with a free-kick that hit the crossbar. The goal in the 68th minute was a wonderful display of passing as things started off with Yann Jouffre finding Campbell, whose pass to Pedrinho resulted in a cross that was cleared by Valenciennes GK Nicolas Penneteau only to be volleyed home by the hard-working Jouffre. To their credit, Valenciennes continued to push forward, with Vincent Aboubakar twice sending shots spiraling wide late in the proceedings (and succeeding only in picking up a YC for his efforts in stoppage time).

Nancy 1-1 Evian – There was nothing to distinguish between the sides in this match, with each club having several chances early. Nancy, who remain winless in Ligue 1, scored in the 53rd minute when Lossemy Karaboue took down a poor clearance and beat the defense for a clinical finish. Evian were able to equalize in the 62nd minute when Nancy defender Jordan Loties fouled Yannick Sagbo in the area, with Cedric Mongongu finishing off the resulting PK. The final chance for the full points went to Nancy, but Djamel Bakar put his effort into the side-netting.

Saint-Etienne 1-1 Auxerre – Les Verts continue to underperform, as they should have taken the full points in this match based on their effort. The struggling side bossed the possession (58-42%), took far more shots (20 to 8, although both clubs only managed to put 4 on frame), earned more corners (13 to 2) and sent in more crosses (38 to 15), only to stumble to a draw. It was Auxerre who were on the mark first, with Anthony Le Tallec taking the ball off former PSG defender Jeremy Clement and finding Ben Sahar for the finish in the 5th minute. It should have been 2-0 in the 12th minute when Sahar found Le Tallec for a goal, but the latter was incorrectly ruled offsides. That seemed to deflate Les Auxerrois, and the equalizer came in the 38th minute when a cross from Loris Nery was headed against the post by Lynel Kitambala, only to fall to Joshua Guilavogui for the rebound. After both sides hit the post, Auxerre GK Olivier Sorin did well to save both a free-kick from Laurent Batlles and the follow-up effort from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Sochaux 3-0 Toulouse – Les Lionceaux sent a strong message to the league with their dismantling of a Toulouse side that nonetheless remains in the Top 4. Le TFC began with an early shot from Moussa Sissoko that drew an excellent save from Sochaux GK Teddy Richert, but after that moment they exhibited an unusual profligacy in front of goal. Sochaux then opened the scoring in the 9th minute when Modibo Maiga finished off a good pass from Loic Poujol, while the remainder of the half saw tame efforts that were easily saved by Richert. Shortly before the hour-mark Antoine Devaux drew another great save from Richert, and then the sides traded shots off the woodwork. Maiga had his brace in the 87th minute when he headed home a cross from Marvin Martin, and the latter was the provider for the final goal as well, crossing for a good finish from Cedric Bakambu in the 90th minute.

Bordeaux 2-2 Montpellier – In Saturday’s best match, Les Girondins got off to an excellent start only to be pegged back by two very late goals from a Montpellier side that continues to surprise. Bordeaux opened the scoring in the 18th minute when a free-kick from Jaroslav Plasil was cleared by Montpellier GK Gregory Jourdren, but only as far as Landry N’Guemo, whose cross was volleyed home by Cheick Diabate. Things then got nervy for Bordeaux in the 25th minute when Marc Planus saw a straight RC for a bad challenge on John Utaka, who responded by sending his next efforts wide and over the crossbar. Despite being down a player, it was Bordeaux who scored again in the 50th minute, this time with a Plasil corner that found the back of the net on an excellent flicked header from Michael Ciani. The match disintegrated a bit into some rough tackles, and thus it wasn’t surprising to see Montpellier reduced to 10 men in the 80th minute when Mapou Yangambiwa saw his 2nd YC for a foul on Yoan Gouffran. The 88th minute found Ciani undue his earlier spectacular effort by handling the ball in the area, and Younes Belhanda coolly scored the resulting PK with a nice panenka effort. Bordeaux were desperate to hang on for the full points, but in the 90th minute a free-kick from Marco Estrada was headed on by Olivier Giroud for a good finish from Vitorino Hilton. An enraged home support staged a small-scale pitch invasion to admonish the referee, but order was eventually restored.

Sunday, October 2nd:
Lille 2-0 Rennes – As I predicted, Les Dogues were too much for Stade Rennais to handle, and Moussa Sow continues to torment his former club. It didn’t take long for the latter to make his mark, as in the 7th minute good movement from Florent Balmont to Mathieu Debuchy resulted in a shot from Joe Cole that was deflected, falling to Sow for the easy finish. After a header wide from Marko Basa, Lille found the back of the net once again, this time when Balmont sent home a free-kick from Eden Hazard. In the 41st minute Sow was denied his brace by a great save from Rennes GK Benoit Costil, while just after the restart Lille GK Mickael Landreau was called into his first action to turn away a free-kick from Julien Feret. The best remaining opportunity of the match saw Landrea do very well to deny a volley from Feret as well as the follow-up effort from Jonathan Pitroipa.

Marseille 1-1 Brest – [Cue hilarious laughter. Begin Benny Hill theme.] Marseille continue to struggle, this time only earning the draw against a Brest side that sit barely above the relegation zone. The latter club got off to the better start, as in the 5th minute L’OM defender Souleymane Diawara cheaply gave away the ball to Romain Poyet, who then dribbled the remaining defenders and sent his shot under Marseille GK Steve Mandanda, who should have done much better with the effort. It was almost a 2-0 lead just 2 minutes later as Santiago Gentiletti put his effort the crossbar, and they would rue that miss in the 20th minute when good work from Mathieu Valbuena and Loic Remy resulted in a nice finish from Andre Ayew for the equalizer. Much of the remainder of the match was dominated by an excellent effort from Benoit Lesoimier and Paul Baysse, but they were unable to find the match-winner for Brest. There were several chances late for both sides, with Nolan Roux and Mario Licka (on a free-kick) drawing saves from Mandanda, while Brest GK Steeve Elana did well to deny Remy.

Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Lyon – The club from the capital ran their title rivals ragged in front of an ecstatic crowd at the Parc des Princes, resulting in Lyon committing 23 fouls and earning 4 YCs (3 of those in the final 10 minutes). It was almost a perfect start in the 4th minute when Jeremy Menez played in Kevin Gameiro, but the latter was denied by Lyon GK Hugo Lloris (who was the sole reason that the scoreline wasn’t worse; Lyon will be happy that he is staying for a little while longer). The 19th minute saw a blistering shot from Javier Pastore deflected onto the post by Kim Kallstrom, while a few minutes later Lloris did well to deny Menez. Les Gones finally had an opportunity in the 36th minute, but youngster Alexandre Lacazette put his diving header wide of the mark. The half ended with Lloris called upon to make saves against Pastore and Diego Lugano, while the second half opened with Bafetimbi Gomis sending a header wide of the mark. The deserved goal arrived in the 64th minute when Pastore sent home an excellent shot after good work from Menez, and a few minutes later Lyon saw their best opportunity wasted as Gomis missed a sitter. Most of the remainder of the second half involved a frustrated Lyon side getting run ragged and fouling in response, and the points were truly secured in the 90th minute when substitute Christophe Jallet volleyed home a free-kick from Nene.

So, after Matchday 9 we have:
Top 4: (1) Paris Saint-Germain (20 points on a 6-2-1 record and a +9 goal differential); (2) Montpellier (17 points on a 5-2-2 record and a +6 goal differential); (3) Lyon (17 points on a 5-2-2 record and a +5 goal differential); and (4) Toulouse (17 points on a 5-2-2 record and a +2 goal differential)
GSTGC award: Mehdi Mostefa (Ajaccio)
Correct Friday preview results predictions: 2 out of 2
Correct Friday preview scores predictions: 0 out of 2