– First hitch for Paris –
Ultra-dominant in the French championship since the start of the season, Paris Saint-Germain conceded their first points on Sunday, held in check by Monaco, which played a solid score, relying on a fine defensive organization.
This time, there was no goal festival but a tactical match, sometimes closed, far from the previous Parisian demonstrations against Clermont (5-0), Montpellier (5-2) then Lille (7-1).
Blame it on ASM, who offered an almost flawless block after Kevin Volland’s opener, launched deep by Golovin before crossing his shot with his left foot low to the ground (19th).
The fault also lies in an obvious lack of success: the Parisians touched the opposing uprights three times, by Messi and Mbappé successively (45th) then by Hakimi (74th).
Only a penalty from Neymar (69th), which Kylian Mbappé left him, two weeks after the controversy over the choice of shooter, allowed the capital club to remain undefeated and retain the lead in Ligue 1.
– Tudor’s OM sublimated by Sanchez
Before that, Olympique de Marseille had taken the lead in the League by crushing Nice 3-0, a year after the serious incidents which had caused the stoppage between the two teams.
During a disputed match under very close police surveillance and without Olympian supporters, banned from traveling, OM won thanks to a double from their new star Alexis Sanchez.
Dimitri Payet, the target of projectiles last year, thus took brilliant revenge and celebrated his return to Igor Tudor’s starting lineup with dignity, with the added bonus of the captain’s armband.
Enough to validate the choices of Tudor, criticized and constantly whistled by Marseille supporters at the Vélodrome, but who has so far performed almost flawlessly despite preparation matches which made us fear the worst.
For Nice, the state of emergency has already been declared. The club, owned by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, cannot come to terms with the departure of its coach Christophe Galtier and Lucien Favre cannot find a solution.
The added value of the players enrolled during the transfer window is also difficult to perceive. Schmeichel has a series of setbacks after a convincing start, Aaron Ramsey only came on after half-time and Nicolas Pépé, on loan from Arsenal, was lonely for his big debut with the Aiglons, 18th and relegated.
– Lyon trapped in Reims
OL had started the 2022-2023 financial year perfectly but fell back into their traps by conceding a first draw in Reims (1-1). Unrecognizable, the troops of Peter Bosz were very deficient technically, failing to control Rémois yet outnumbered from the 63rd minute and the exclusion of Dion Lopy for a foul on Alexandre Lacazette.
Deprived of Lucas Paqueta, awaiting transfer to West Ham, OL lacked inspiration, unable to create worthy chances against a defense that had conceded 9 goals in the first three games, even move by Reims, then at 10 against 11.
However, Lyon managed to limit the breakage on a header from Moussa Dembélé in the 86th minute. A serious warning for the Rhodanians, who have just come out of a completely failed season and without European qualification.
– Nantes, finally deliverance
Without success since the start of the season, Nantes put an end to its scarcity by overcoming Toulouse at La Beaujoire (3-1). It is probably no coincidence that this victory comes at the end of the endless soap opera Ludovic Blas. The talented playmaker, whose future on the banks of the Erdre was uncertain and who had initially asked not to face Téfécé, finally decided to stay in Nantes, to the great relief of his coach Antoine Kombouaré.
The promoted Toulouse (10th) knows him an end of series by suffering his first setback since his return to the elite.
