Matchday 3 began in Brest as PSG came away with a 4:2 victory. PSG still without Messi after his free transfer, though the Argentine has been training to get himself ready for his debut with the Parisians. AS Monaco continue their woeful start to the campaign after a surprise home defeat to RC Lens. Last years Ligue 1 Champions still struggling to get off the ground, finding themselves mid-table.
The two surprise teams of the early stages Clermont and Angers still putting points on the board, but the major talking point of Matchday 3 came in the evening game on Sunday as Marseille went away to rivals Nice. Nice were leading 1:0 at the half through a goal from their Danish striker Kasper Dolberg. Midway through the 2nd half, following being pelted with bottles from the Nice stands, Payet and other Marseille players retaliated. The retaliation caused the Ultras Populaire de Nice to leave their stand and begin fighting with the Marseille players.
The LFP and Nice were happy with the game to continue after a stoppage. Marseille however were not, as the referee and the Nice players awaited a Marseille corner at the 70th minute to be taken. Moments passed and it became evident the Marseille players and staff would not be returning.
20/08/2021
Brest 2:4 Paris Saint-Germain
21/08/2021
AS Monaco 0:2 RC Lens
AS Saint-Etienne 1:1 Lille
22/08/2021
Lyon 3:3 Clermont
Strasbourg 1:1 Troyes
Montpellier 3 :1 FC Lorient
FC Metz 1:1 Reims
Bordeaux 1:1 Angers
Stade Rennais 1:0 FC Nantes
Nice 1:0 Marseille (Game Suspended)
Matchday 4 kicked off on Friday with a Lyon win away in Nantes. The two warring clubs from last week Nice and Marseille both had home games on Saturday, Nice demolished Bordeaux 4:0 at the Allianz Arena. Over in Marseille at the Velodrome, what was the original Le Classique of French Football in the eyes of many, Saint Etienne were paying a visit to the club on the Mediterranean. Saint Etienne supporters were banned from travelling to the match by the French Minister of the Interior, citing safety concerns.
Marseille still employing Sampaoli’s very fluid, attacking 3-3-4-1 formation looked great going forward but shakey at the back. Guendouzi and Gerson both opened their Marseille goal accounts before Cengiz Ünder scored a beautifully curled effort from the edge of the box. The big highlight of Matchday 4 came the moment many people thought we’d never see, Lionel Messi sporting the kit of another football club not called Barcelona.
Reims stadium had just about a quarter of their tickets sold for the PSG before rumours of a debut appearance for the Argentine wizard began circulating prior. Following the rumours, the ground was nearly sold out and you could feel the anticipation in the stadium for a historic moment. Messi already proving to be a draw in French domestic football, was received warmly by the boisterous PSG travelling support as well as the home sections of the Reims ground.
On the pitch however, PSG often looked sloppy at the back. If Reims were more capable in the final third they could have come away with a draw at the least. Going forward, PSG struggled to make progressive balls into the final third and if it wasn’t for two terrific deliveries from the right wing into the box they may have failed to score. Di Maria setting up the first and Hakimi setting up the second for an Mbappe brace. Messi came on for compatriot Di Maria in the 2nd half to a brilliant reception and showed brief glimpses of his ability.
27/08/2021
FC Nantes 0:1 Lyon
28/08/2021
Nice 4:0 Bordeaux
Marseille 3:1 AS Saint-Etienne
29/08/2021
Troyes 2:1 AS Monaco
Strasbourg 3:1 Brest
Clermont 2:2 FC Metz
RC Lens 2:2 FC Lorient
Angers 2:0 Stade Rennais
Lille 2:1 Montpellier
Reims 0:2 Paris Saint-Germain
