Matchday 5 kicked off on Friday evening as FC Lorient beat last years champions Lille 2:1. Lille have been far from convincing and even with the gutting of the league winning squad, they and their fans would have hoped for more after the first five games of the season. Currently closer to the relegation zone than battling for Europe and a 2nd consecutive title.
The dream start for Clermont came to a crashing halt at Parc des Princes as PSG won by a resounding 4:0 including a brace from Ander Herrera. Donnaruma made his first start in the PSG goal but the matchday squad was missing Lionel Messi and Neymar, presumably due to the late return from International Duty from CONMEBOL. Saturday’s other game saw Marseille travelling to Monaco in a Cote d’Azure derby.
Marseille were backed by a large amount of away support, the ultras boisterous in the designated away section and with a smattering of other Marseillais fans around the stadium. Pau Lopez made his l’OM debut in goal, the Roma loanee getting a clean sheet. Sampaoli named a heavily rotated squad with league starts for the first time season for Pol Lirola, new signing Amine Harit and Bamba Dieng. Bamba Dieng looked the most dangerous and grabbed himself a brace but it could have easily been 4/5 for him with better finishing, Monaco were helpless against the Senegalese forwards pace.
Montpellier will be happy with their 2:0 home win vs. ASSE in what looked to a fairly even game by all accounts. Reims hit Rennais (who dominated) twice on the counter for two goals by academy products, Ekitike and Koffi. Nantes will be feeling like they just got mugged by Nice, Nantes dominated the game for nearly 80 minutes before Nice scored the breakthrough late through Dolberg, and added a 2nd through Gouiri shortly after.
The LFP have announced the results of the disciplinary action to be taken against Nice and Marseille. Nice are already in a run of 4 home games being played behind closed doors which was already known, they have been docked two points with one being suspended. Payet has been handed a suspended one game ban for throwing the missiles thrown at him back into the stands, the action that led to the pitch invasion. Alvaro Gonzalez has been given a two game ban for his role in the on pitch fighting while Marseille physio Pablo Fernandez was giving a year ban from Ligue 1 activity due to him punching a Nice fan. The suspended game will be replayed in a neutral venue and behind closed doors.
10/09/2021
FC Lorient 2:1 Lille OSC
11/09/2021
Paris Saint-Germain 4:0 Clermont Foot
AS Monaco 0:2 Olympique de Marseille
12/09/2021
Montpellier HSC 2:0 AS Saint-Etienne
Stade Brestois 1:1 Angers SCO
FC Metz 0:2 ESTAC Troyes
Stade Rennais 0:2 Stade de Reims
Girondins de Bordeaux 2:3 RC Lens
FC Nantes 0:2 OGC Nice
Olympique Lyonnais 3:1 RC Strasbourg Alsace
