Ligue 1 Weekend Review

Lille took a bite out of Lyon for the result of the week.

This week’s matches saw continued high-flying scoring, unlike some other leagues (I’m looking at you, Serie A!).

A few players shone brightly this week, with Younes Belhanda (Montpellier) and Benjamin Corgnet (Dijon) continuing to attract attention with their excellent play.

The result of the week goes to Lille, as Les Dogues downed fellow title-contenders Lyon 3-1 to rearrange the top of the table a bit.

Speaking of Lille, be sure to head over to their official site to see Joe Cole interview…Joe Cole! Fascinating stuff.

Saturday, October 22nd:
Bordeaux 1-1 Brest – Les Girondins dominated this match, taking 3 times as many shots (and putting 6 on frame, compared to only 1 for the opposition) and earning 12 corners, but they were unable to distance themselves on the scoresheet. With the draw, Brest remain the only club winless in Ligue 1. They looked the better side early, with Nolan Roux threatening Bordeaux GK Cedric Carrasso on a number of occasions, but the latter’s teammates stepped up their play to end the half. The opening goal came in the 52nd minute when a shot from Jaroslav Plasil was punched out by Brest GK Steeve Elana, only to land at the feet of a waiting Yoan Gouffran. The equalizer didn’t take long, as in the 63rd minute a Larsen Toure cross was sent home by Eden ben Basat. Bordeaux had opportunities to take the full points, but Elana denied good efforts from Landry N’Guemo and Nicolas Maurice-Belay.

Caen 1-3 Montpellier – Montpellier continue to look good while extending their goal differential, this time taking advantage of the brilliant play of Younes Belhanda. It was a free-kick from the latter that saw the opening goal in the 14th minute when it found the head of Mapou Yangambiwa, and he was again the provider in the 20th minute on a counter-attack which was finished by John Utaka. The hard-working Belhanda got the goal he deserved in the 79th minute on a pass from Garry Bocali. Caen were able to pull a goal back in the 82nd minute when Montpellier Geoffrey Jourdren committed a foul in the area and Benjamin Nivet sent home the resulting PK, but it was far too late for a comeback. The match saw both clubs finish with 10 men, as both Joris Marveaux (Montpellier) and Pierre-Alain Frau (Caen) saw 2 YCs and were dismissed.

Marseille 2-0 Ajaccio – It took facing a struggling promoted side for Marseille to get only their 2nd win of the early Ligue 1 campaign, but they did so in style. L’OM took 33 shots, putting 17 of those on frame, and earned 15 corners in an aggressive display that will serve to lift embattled gaffer Didier Deschamps’ spirits. Still, most of that offense came through Andre Ayew, meaning that Deschamps remains frustrated by the lack of urgency from some of his high-profile players. The former didn’t look that impressive at the start of the match, as a John Cavalli handball in the 20th minute saw Ajaccio GK Guillermo Ochoa deny Ayew’s PK as well as his follow-up attempt. Perhaps motivated by that, Ayew found the back of the net in the 30th minute after a long throw had been flicked on by his brother, Jordan. He had his brace in the 49th minute on an excellent cross from Mathieu Valbuena. Despite giving up those goals, Ochoa was impressive in this match, making late saves on Morgan Amalfitano, Andre-Pierre Gignac and Loic Remy.

Nancy 1-0 Nice – The clubs put on a display of profligacy, combining to put fewer than 25% of their shots on target. The best chance of the first half saw Camel Meriem put a volley barely over the crossbar, but then Nancy began to take over. The match-winner came in the 54th minute when Daniel Niculae headed home a cross from Reynald Lemaitre. Nice pushed for the equalizer, but Meriem hit the post and Renato Civelli was denied by Nancy GK Guy Rolland Ndy Assembe.

Saint-Etienne 1-0 Valenciennes – It’s 2 on the trot for Les Verts, who are now unbeaten in their last 5 matches and move into 8th place in the table. This match was very even, statistically, with both sides having opportunities for the full points. Saint-Etienne started more quickly, with Max Gradel drawing an excellent save from Valenciennes GK Nicolas Penneteau. The latter’s teammates responded, with Fouad Kadir sending a lob just over the crossbar to end the half. The match-winner arrived in the 50th minute when Laurent Batlles headed home a cross from Gradel. Valenciennes struggled to find the equalizer, with Vincent Aboubakar denied by ASSE GK Stephane Ruffier and then sending a shot wide, while Gil hit the post with a volley.

Sochaux 1-1 Evian – Winless in their last 8 matches, Evian needed a stoppage-time goal to share the points in this affair as they looked listless throughout. Les Lionceaux were far more efficient going forward, with Edouard Butin drawing a save from Evian GK Bertrand Laquait. The latter did well to stop an effort from Modibo Maiga shortly after the restart, but the rebound fell to Butin for the opening goal. The 78th minute saw a volley from Cedric Bakambu go over the crossbar, and they would rue that miss in the 92nd minute when Aldo Angoula headed home a corner.

Lorient 0-0 Toulouse – The snoozer of the week saw Lorient dominate statistically, but they were unable to grab the full points despite playing with a man advantage after Pavle Ninkov was dismissed in the 67th minute for a 2nd YC earned for a last-man foul on Kevin Monnet-Paquet. Toulouse had the opportunity to steal the points in the 89th minute, but the header from Umut Bulut sailed over the crossbar.

Sunday, October 23rd:
Auxerre 0-1 Rennes – Les Auxerrois were the better side before the break, but things tightened up considerably after the restart. Just before the hour mark a free-kick from Julien Feret drew an excellent save from Auxerre GK Olivier Sorin, and the former finally broke through in the 74th minute when he finished off a pass from Razak Boukari.

Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Dijon – The club from the capital did well to see off a surprisingly game Dijon side that attempted to outmuscle them. PSG experienced a scare early when a Jeremy Menez turnover saw a shot from Benjamin Corgnet that drew an excellent save from Salvatore Sirigu. The PSG midfielder made up for his gaffe, drawing a save from Dijon GK Baptiste Reynet in the 36th minute, and sending in a decisive cross in the 42nd minute that allowed Nene to find the back of the net. After the restart Dijon again pushed forward through the impressive Corgnet, who sent a volley wide of the target just after the hour mark. The pressure from PSG followed, and its toll began to accumulate, with a header from Kevin Gameiro drawing another save from the busy Reynet. The victory was sealed in the 90th minute when Nene completed his brace on a pass from Clement Chantome.

Lille 3-1 Lyon – Les Dogues were dominant, holding 57% of the possession and earning 14 corners (compared to 4 for Lyon, earning the full points to move into 3rd in the table. The sides both did well to put efforts on target, with the opening salvo seeing a shot from Jimmy Briand draw an excellent save from Lille GK Mickael Landreau. The former opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, taking down a cross from Yoann Gourcuff and putting his shot between the legs of Landreau. Les Gones were heartened by an effort from Bafetimbi Gomis that went barely wide, feeling that they were in control, but that changed in first-half stoppage-time when a Dimitri Payet corner caused confusion between Lyon GK Hugo Lloris and his defender Bakary Kone, allowing Moussa Sow to tap home the uncorralled ball. The second half started much as the first, with Kim Kallstrom seeing his effort pushed over the crossbar by Landreau. Lille took the lead in the 65th minute when Marko Basa headed home a free-kick from Payet, and shortly after that Eden Hazard drew another save from Lloris. The points were secured in the 83rd minute when a cross from Sow was sent home by Joe Cole.

So, after Matchday 11 we have:
Top 4: (1) Paris Saint-Germain (26 points on a 8-2-1 record and a +13 goal differential); (2) Montpellier (23 points on a 7-2-2 record and a +10 goal differential); (3) Lille (22 points on a 6-4-1 record and a +9 goal differential); and (4) Rennes (21 points on a 6-3-2 record and a +7 goal differential)
GSTGC award: Younes Belhanda (Montpellier), with the Gordie Howe hat-trick