The 8e Ligue 1 day, which began on Saturday, September 25, confirmed the omnipotence of Paris-Saint-Germain on the national scene. But the Parisians, winners in the evening of Montpellier (2-0), already have their eyes on their next Champions League match – the club’s ultimate goal – on Tuesday against the English Manchester City.
Behind PSG, Lyon saw its momentum slowed down against Lorient (1-1), a surprise team at the start of the season. The reigning French champion, Lille, regained confidence by going to win in Strasbourg (2-1). Quite the opposite of Saint-Etienne which sinks with a stinging defeat at home against Nice (3-0).
The roller coaster for PSG
Paris-Saint-Germain has signed, against Montpellier, an eighth victory in as many days of Ligue 1. In the league, Mauricio Pochettino’s men are walking around, and are already ten points ahead of the second, Marseille, who receives Lens on Sunday, and which has a game to play against Nice.
A magnificent goal by Idrissa Gana Gueye (14e), outside the area, opened the ball for a PSG clearly domineering but long awkward to win with more margin. The Senegalese midfielder is transformed: it is already his third goal of the season, each time on a powerful strike.
With the four goals of Ander Herrera, who found the crossbar (42e), Mauricio Pochettino has midfielders not only brilliant in recovery but also very efficient. Gueye has already scored more goals than last season, two in all competitions.
Around this solid midfielder, PSG has shown progress in collective cohesion. He will have to remember this collective strength against Manchester, and reincorporate Lionel Messi, still spared for a pain in his left knee. Earlier in the afternoon the “Citizens” managed a demonstration of collective pressing to beat Chelsea (1-0), until then leader of the English championship.
Against Montpellier, PSG also demonstrated its sense of finish, scoring again in the last minutes, as against Lyon and Metz (2-1 both times). This time it was Julian Draxler, on a good offset from Neymar, who scored (89e). The German had just replaced Kylian Mbappé. The Parisian striker has remained silent for the third time in a row in Ligue 1, a rarity. It would be an excellent idea to regain efficiency on Tuesday against the “Sky blues”.
Lyon clings to Lorient
Very complicated evening for Lyon: reduced to ten and led, OL finally drew against Lorient (1-1), during a meeting that left its mark on the Lyonnais.
At the 15e One minute, Brazilian defender Emerson was sent off after accidentally touching Enzo Le Fee’s foot in the race, while at the same time Belgian center-back Jason Denayer was injured. The latter should therefore withdraw Thursday in the Europa League against the Danes of Brondby and probably for the derby in Saint-Etienne, on October 3, a match for which Emerson will be automatically suspended.
On the free kick awarded for the fault of the Brazilian, Armand Laurienté gave the advantage to the Merlus with a strike in the skylight (20e). But OL have always tried to play forward to snatch the equalizer or even win. Under the impetus of their Brazilian duo, Paquetà-Bruno Guimaraes, Lyon managed to get back to the mark at the start of the second half with a goal from Karl Toko-Ekambi after a one-two with the Algerian Islam Slimani, who entered at half-time (51e).
The Lyonnais even thought they won thanks to a goal from Paquetà in added time, refused for offside. This draw sounds like a stop to the accounting plan, but OL displayed an irreproachable state of mind like the match against Paris.
The Lyonnais are seventh while Lorient confirms its good start to the season by temporarily moving to fourth place.
Greens completely empty
Coveted backstage by Cambodian Prince Norodom Ravichak, Saint-Etienne lost 3-0 against Nice, at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium. The Forez club, which has not yet won a game this season, sinks to last place in the standings.
As a symbol, the opening of the mark came from a goal against his camp from the captain of Saint-Etienne. Mahdi Camara inadvertently deflected in his own goal the free kick of the Nice striker, Amine Gouiri (15e).
Decisive on several occasions in his surface during the first act, the young Saint Etienne goalkeeper Stefan Bajic (19) missed a raise at the start of the second period at the origin of the second Nice scored by Calvin Stengs (54e). ASSE then pushed to close the gap, but failed.
On the contrary, at the end of the game, Andy Delort salted the bill by scoring the third Nice goal (83e). For the Greens, it is a fifth consecutive setback. The sporting situation becomes critical one week before the derby against Lyon.
Lille goes to Strasbourg
For his part, the Lille champion of France is gradually recovering his health. For the first time this season, the Mastiffs have chained a second consecutive victory, by winning on the lawn of Strasbourg (2-1). The solution came from the Canadian Jonathan David, author of a double.
David’s first goal came with a nice movement to the left (23e) before he transforms a penalty at the hour mark (57e). The Canadian could have scored a hat-trick if he had been more precise in front of opposing goals.
But his clumsiness did not prejudice his team, despite the Strasbourg reduction of the gap by Ibrahima Sissoko on a corner (75e). The Lille were preparing to suffer but the expulsion of Adrien Thomasson for a big fault (79e) calmed the ardor of Strasbourg reduced to ten.
With this success away from home, Lille is reassured before tackling a new European week. The French champions will play in Salzburg on Wednesday in the Champions League.