It’s the trio that’s supposed to be carrying Ligue 1 for years. After six days of the championship, Paris, Lyon and Marseille are finally present together, and the famous axis “PLM” occupies, Saturday, September 3, the three matches of the podium.
Paris-Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille won with authority at Nantes (3-0) and Auxerre (2-0), respectively, to escape at the top of Ligue 1. With 16 points, the two French representatives in the Champions League have prepared well for the European deadline which arrives in the week. Lyon blew up Angers (5-0) and healed their goal difference (13 pts, +10). OL even have a game behind, which will be played in Lorient on Wednesday.
PSG spins and wins easily
Three days before entering the Champions League against the Italians of Juventus, PSG did not tremble in Nantes. While Neymar was spared ahead of Tuesday’s clash – “I had a long discussion yesterday with ‘Ney’, I took the decision and he accepted it very well”said Parisian coach Christophe Galtier – Kylian Mbappé scored twice and Lionel Messi delighted Parisian supporters with his murderous accelerations, even if Nantes goalkeeper Alban Lafont kept his fans afloat for a long time.
Surprising 3-1 winners during PSG’s last visit to La Beaujoire but swept away 4-0 during the Champions Trophy at the end of July, the Nantes, reduced to ten for more than an hour, did not however deserve. It also bodes well for them, who will receive Olympiakos on Thursday in the Europa League for their return to the European scene after nearly two decades of absence.
The start of the match was disrupted by the bad behavior of some supporters. At the 7e minute, despite the nets deployed by three stewards at the corner post, Messi, copiously whistled, was targeted by throwing objects. The referee recovered at least two lighters, and the announcer had to remind the supporters of the risks of a suspension of the match.
After a few attempts from Nantes, the Parisians were quick to cool Beaujoire: after recovery work from Pablo Sarabia, Messi came up half the field and served on the left Mbappé, who opened the scoring with a curled shot and powerful (0-1, 18e).
Pushed by the supporters, the Nantes people then tried to get back on the rhythm, but too clumsily and dangerously: Fabio was excluded for a late and too high tackle on Vitinha (24e). Excellent since the start of the season, the Portuguese midfielder, hit in the left knee, came out in stride.
In the second period, the Messi-Mbappé duo took the break: launched in depth, the 2018 world champion first served the Argentinian, before concluding himself and signing his seventh goal of the season in L1 (0-2, 54e).
Entering on the hour mark in place of Mbappé, Neymar failed to push his already record statistics even further (7 goals, 6 assists), even if he was indirectly involved in the third goal. After a shot from the Brazilian blocked by the post, the ball bounced at the feet of Nuno Mendes, who gave Lafont no chance (0-3, 67e).
If the rate of goals has dropped slightly compared to the start of the season (5-0 in Clermont, 7-1 in Lille), the Parisians nevertheless confirm their great form. At the same time, Juventus, admittedly still undefeated in Serie A, recorded their third draw in five games on Saturday at Fiorentina.
Marseille keeps pace
In Auxerre, an early goal from the Brazilian Gerson launched OM to their fifth success in six Ligue 1 matches. , launched on Wednesday by the maiden trip to the Champions League in London to face Tottenham, the fiercest rivals of the Phocaeans in the group stage.
“It’s a very positive start to the season but there is a new match in four days, we will have to remobilize”launched coach Igor Tudor, assuring that his players were “loans” for shock.
In anticipation of such a dense fortnight to come, the Croatian proceeded to a wide rotation compared to the victorious team of Clermont (1-1) on Wednesday. This did not prevent the Marseillais from starting quickly and strongly: on receiving a pass from young right-back Issa Kaboré (21), tenured for the first time, Cendiz Under hooked a defender and shot at the post. The ball returned to Gerson, whose recovery hit the mark (8e1-0).
The Brazilian midfielder, recently returned from injury, was inspired and stirring before his exit, frankly sulky, on the hour mark, when the pressure from Auxerre was more threatening. But AJA gave in once again, on a three-way move initiated by Amine Harit, extended by Mattéo Guendouzi and concluded with a flat foot by Alexis Sanchez, who entered the game. (2-0, 84e).
The Chilean striker, who scored his third goal with OM, has adapted well to his new colours. But he will be suspended for Wednesday’s clash against Hugo Lloris’ Spurs.
No danger for Lyon
For its part, Lyon won without forcing, at home, against a very weak team from Angers who can already be worried. But Olympique Lyonnais, provisionally third on goal difference ahead of Lens (4e) can still not learn much from this victory.
After a very insufficient first half hour in terms of intensity, Lyon broke free after opening the scoring through Karl Toko-Ekambi who took advantage of an error by Abdoulaye Bamba to deceive Paul Bernardoni with a cross shot ( 1-0, 32e).
The Angevin goalkeeper then lost on a resumption of the head of Alexandre Lacazette, six minutes later, on the reception of a center delivered from the right wing by Malo Gusto (2-0, 38e).
The latter, on a new cross from the right, then allowed Toko-Ekambi to achieve the double to bring the score to 3-0 and score his third goal this season (59e) before Castello Lukeba, with a header, took advantage of Bernardoni’s failed exit from a corner played by Romain Faivre, to score a fourth goal (4-0, 62e).