Marseille, caught up in Brest (1-1) despite the debut in Ligue 1 of its renowned rookie Alexis Sanchez, experienced his first setback in Ligue 1 on Sunday August 14 at the end of the second day. OM, who won 4-1 over Reims at the start of the season, opened the scoring thanks to Nuno Tavares (38th), before the equalizer from Pierre Lees-Melou (61st). The Chilean Alexis Sanchez, who arrived in Marseille on Wednesday with great fanfare, came into play at halftime.
The ranking after two games is far from significant at this stage of the season, but it is evocative: already, Paris SG, defending champion, prances alone at the top of the ranking, thanks to their big victory on Saturday against Montpellier (5 -2). If Lorient and Lyon, winners on the first day, will play their meeting of the weekend at a later date because of a damaged lawn, only PSG were able to bring back three points in their first two matches.
OM were not so far from achieving this, after Nuno Tavares (38th) opened the scoring in Brittany. But the Marseillais conceded too many chances to their evening opponent, logically rewarded with an overpowered strike from Pierre Lees-Melou (61st). OM’s Croatian coach, Igor Tudor, was able to launch the flagship rookie of his transfer window, but the Chilean Alexis Sanchez – who arrived with great fanfare in the Marseille city this week – did not really weigh on the meeting after his came into play at half-time. Arkadiusz Milik, author of several dangerous nudges in duels, could even have been excluded… In summary, Marseille did not have to be ashamed to leave the Breton mist with a point in the luggage and a third place in the standings, alongside Lille held in check in Nantes on Friday (1-1).
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Very Seductive Violets
Monaco and Lens also have four units, after their respective draws against Rennes on Saturday (1-1) and Ajaccio on Sunday (0-0). Four points is also the total of Toulouse, promoted with a very attractive face on the lawn of Troyes in the afternoon (3-0). The TFC has indeed confirmed its appetite for the start of the season in a direct competitor in the race to maintain, complicated this year by the four descents in Ligue 2 provided for by the regulations. The Violets took advantage of an own goal from Yasser Larouci (36th), before hardening the score by Rafael Ratao (54th) then Rhys Healey (85th). Promising for the TFC, a week after defeating Nice (1-1).
After this draw against a promoted, the Niçois were therefore expected, Sunday against Strasbourg. But before its Europa League Conference play-off on Thursday, the Gym failed to take off in the Championship. With the first tenure of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, Lucien Favre’s men pushed late in the game, but they failed to bend the Alsatians other than on a penalty from Andy Delort (35th), erased by a goal smart from Kevin Gameiro (55th).
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Reims is sinking…
More worryingly, Stade de Reims has already folded eight times in two matches. After Sunday’s rout at the Vélodrome against Marseille (4-1), the Rémois cracked at home against Clermont despite a two-goal lead at halftime (4-2). The exclusion of Emmanuel Agbadou (48th) revived the Auvergnats, untenable in the second half with four goals, including a double from new striker Komnen Andric.
A similar reversal of the situation took place in Auxerre, where the promoted player thought he was leading 3-1 against Angers before seeing his 3rd goal disallowed by video assistance, for a foul at the start of the action.. And finally, the SCO managed to snatch the draw (2-2).
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