Matchday 1 saw the return of the top league of French Professional football, and also the return of fans for the first time since the start of the pandemic towards the end of the 2019/2020 campaign. AS Monaco and Nantes start the competition on Friday, PSG travel away to newly-promoted as Ligue 2 Champions, Troyes and 2020/2021 Ligue 1 Champions travel to Metz to kick start their title defence. Clermont start their debut Ligue 1 season away to Bordeaux.
Matchday 2 had the first home matches of the season for PSG, Lille and a vociferous crowd at Stade Velodrome for Marseille. Clermont also have their first ever home game in the French top flight, they face fellow Ligue 1 newcomers Troyes.
Highlights can be found on the Ligue 1 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Ligue1official
Friday 6th
AS Monaco 1:1 Nantes
Gelson Martins scored the opener for Monaco after 14 minutes, Jean-Charles Castelletto scoring the equaliser just before the half ended at 41 minutes. Despite the draw, AS Monaco at home in the Stade Louis II probably should have got more than the single point after dominating the game statistically.
Saturday 7th
Lyon 1:1 Brest
Brest went ahead in Lyon, with Irvin Cardona hitting the net at the 43 minute mark. Islam Slimani spared Lyon from a home defeat scoring the equaliser after 63 minutes.
Troyes 1:2 Paris Saint-Germain
PSG will be happy to start the campaign in the winning column after losing out on Ligue 1 last year. They are now undoubtedly the favourites to win this 2021/22 season after the business they done during the summer. Oualid El-Hajjam put the home side ahead before the 10 minute mark. Achraf Hakimi scored on his PSG debut to equalise after 19 minutes. Mauro Icardi sparing PSG’s blushes against newly-promoted Troyes with the winner on the 21st minute.
Sunday 8th
Rennes 1:1 RC Lens
Sulemana put the home side ahead after 14 minutes, with Fofana equaliser after 19 minute. Rennes and Lens share the spoils at Stade de la Route-de-Lorient.
Bordeaux 0:2 Clermont
Newly-promoted Clermont provide the shock of matchday 1 by defeating Bordeaux away from home. Two late goals from Bayo (82nd) and Dossou (93rd) give Clermont a dream start to their first Ligue 1 season at the Nouveau Stade Bordeaux.
Nice 0:0 Reims
A stalemate at the Allianz Riviera as Nice and Reims share the spoils. Despite dominating the game, Nice failed to make their chances count. 63% possession, 12 shots but only 2 on target suggests Nice have work to do, especially against better sides.
St Etienne 1:1 FC Lorient
Continuing the trend of draws on the opening weekend of Ligue 1. Another stalemate at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Le Goff put the away side ahead after 52 minutes. Lorient’s Laporte gives away a penalty and Khazri equalises (70th) for Etienne from the spot.
Strasbourg 0:2 Angers
Angers with an away win in Strasbourg. Goals from Traore (57th) and Bahoken (81st) give Angers the win in a closely fought contest. Clinical conversion of chances pay dividends for the away side.
Metz 3:3 Lille
6th Draw of the weekend as Lille stumble in their opening match as defending champions. Lille dominated but Metz converted on the counter with goals from Centonze (31st, 52nd) and Udol (41st) had Metz ahead 3:1 after Lille’s opener from Botman (23rd). Kouyate got sent off for Metz after 56 minutes, Ikone brought Lille back into it on the 81st minute mark. Lille came out with a point after an own goal from Oukidja deep in added time.
Montpellier 2:3 Marseille
Montpellier got off to a great start, leading 2:0 at the half. An own goal from l’OM defender Peres (30th) and a goal shortly after from Laborde (34th). Sampaoli’s Marseille came out in the 2nd half, a debut goal for Cengiz Under (68th) and two from talisman Dimitri Payet (75th, 80th). Marseille’s new signings, Under (on loan from Roma), Guendouzi (on loan from Arsenal), Gerson and Konrad de la Fuente all impressing. Truly a Game of 2 Halves.
Friday 13th
FC Lorient 1:0 AS Monaco
Lorient got their first win of the season after last weeks draw vs. St. Etienne. Moffi scoring from the penalty spot after 31 minutes was enough to see Lorient get 3 points at the Stade du Moustoir.
Saturday 14th
Lille 0:4 Nice
Defending Champions Lille suffered a humbling defeat at the hands of Nice. 30,000+ were stunned at Stade Pierre-Mauroy as Nice had a commanding 3:0 lead going into half-time, goals from Dolberg (1st), Boudaoui (5th) and Giouri from the penalty spot deep into extra time (45th +4). Dolberg completed the rout after 60 minutes.
Paris Saint-Germain 4:2 Strasbourg
PSG went into the this game after announcing the signing of Lionel Messi, certainly adding to the buzz of Parc des Princes. The Argentine himself admitted it could be some time before he plays as he may require to undergo a pre-season. Goals from Icardi (3rd), Mbappe (25th), Draxler (27th) and Sarabia (86th) was enough for PSG to get 2 wins out of 2. Strasbourg had a brief fightback in the 2nd half with goals from Gameiro (53rd) and Ajorgue (64th) before Djiku got himself sent off for the visitors late on.
Sunday 15th
Angers 3:0 Lyon
Angers continue their winning ways with a comfortable 3:0 home win vs. Lyon. Boufal (20th), an own goal from OL’s Marcelo (53rd) and Ounahi (77th) with the goals in front of the Stade Jean-Bouin faithful. To add further misery to OL, Cornet got sent off in the 65th.
Brest 1:1 Rennes
Brest and Rennes follow up their draws from last week by staying true to form. Two very late goals at the Stade Francis-Le Ble, Rennes went ahead in the 84th through Guirassy. Brest rescued a point deep in extra time as Le Douaron (94th).
Clermont 2:0 Troyes
Clermont finished 2nd to Troyes last year. But its Clermont who now have back to back wins as Troyes fall to their 2nd defeat. Truly a dream start to Clermont’s first season in Ligue 1. Troyes had Kabore sent off in the 33rd minute. Clermont came out with two second half goals from Bayo (53rd, 65th).
Nantes 2:0 Metz
After a draw on the opening day away to Monaco, Nantes return home with a solid win against a Metz side who held the defending Champions to a draw. Goals from Kolo Muani (16th) and Blas (49th) secured all 3 points for Nantes at La Beaujoire-Louis-Fonteneau.
Reims 3:3 Montpellier
A five goal 1st half had Montpellier up 3:2 at the break. An early goal for Montpellier through Cozza (5th) before two Reims goals from Moro Cassama (7th, 26th). Montpellier regained the lead through Delort (38th) and Laborde (43rd). Kebbal rescued a point for the home side in the 82nd minute.
RC Lens 2:2 St Etienne
Tied at the half 1:1, and tied at full time 2:2. Not much separated these sides on the scoreline, but the home side dominated possession and peppered the Etienne goal with shots. Khazri (1st) got Etienne off to a flyer before Ganago (36th) restored parity for the home side. Bounaga put the away side back in front (52nd) before Fofana levelled the contest once again (77th). Reims will feel they should have got more in front of their fans at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
Marseille 2:2 Bordeaux
Stade Velodrome welcomed back the home fans, and the Marseille Ultra on the Nord and Sud were on form. It was as hot in the stands as it was temperature wise. Samuel Kula collapsed early on due to heat exhaustion but walked off the pitch on his own feet. He wanted to continue but was subbed off shortly after. Marseille were dominant in the first half with goals from Under (34th) and Payet (41st) giving them a 2:0 advantage at the half. Bordeaux came back in the 2nd with goals from Pempele (51st) and Oudin (57th). Balerdi got sent off for the home side after 88 minutes.
