Lhe Paris Saint-Germain, Lens and Marseille had no hiccups on Wednesday in Ligue 1 Matchday 5 and continue to race in the lead, with Paris ahead of their rivals on goal difference. Paris reacted well after being manhandled by Monaco (1-1) on Sunday at the Parc des Princes. On the move to Toulouse, the Parisians came across a fine defense from Téfécé and a goalkeeper, Maxime Dupé, in a state of grace. But they were able to count on their magic trio Messi-Neymar-Mbappé to make the difference (3-0).
The “Ney”, well launched by his two friends, found the fault in the first period, bringing his total of goals in L1 to 7. Kylian Mbappé imitated him after the break following a magnificent work by Messi, author of two decisive passes, before Juan Bernat worsened the score in stoppage time. While we expected a higher turnover, the Parisian coach, Christophe Galtier, operated only two changes in his starting lineup (first tenures of Nordi Mukiele and Danilo) despite the proximity of the start of the Champions League next Tuesday against Juventus Turin. A paying choice which allows the champions of France to record a 4ᵉ victory in five outings and to remain undefeated.
Lens also started the season on the same basis, despite a less flamboyant attack than Paris. Lorient paid a heavy price for Bollaert (5-2), including a brace from Florian Sotoca, in the absence of the handyman in the blood and gold midfielder, Seko Fofana, injured. As for the Marseillais, they confirmed against Clermont (1-0) their current good arrangements, which validate the choices of the new coach, Igor Tudor. The Croatian was not this time copiously whistled by the Velodrome, but he received a mixed reception. If the new OM star Alexis Sanchez did not score, Dimitri Payet obtained his second consecutive start, proof that the atmosphere between the two men has calmed down.
The Lyonnais return to success
Held in check last week in Reims (1-1), OL took advantage of the visit of the promoted from Auxerre to Groupama stadium to return to success (2-1), the third of the season. Peter Bosz’s troops remain at the gates of the podium (4e) and the Dutch technician, who is still struggling to convince more than a year after his arrival, is gaining some peace of mind. The departure to West Ham of playing master Lucas Paqueta has in any case not destabilized the Rhodaniens, in search of redemption after a not very glorious previous exercise (8e, no European qualification). Lyon has even already found a new Brazilian hero, Tetê, who scored his 4e league goal, Cameroon’s Karl Toko Ekambi doubling the lead for Lyon.
READ ALSOLigue 1 – OL: major maneuvers on the banks of the Rhône
Three days after the draw brought back from Paris (1-1), Monaco showed a completely different face at home and were humiliated by Troyes (4-2). Definitely, the Louis-II stadium does not succeed at ASM, the players of Philippe Clément still not having won a single match on their lawn this season. To make matters worse, the Belgian coach lost his Chilean central defender Guillermo Maripan, excluded just before the break, an outing which completely liquefied his players. Eliminated on 3e preliminary round of the Champions League, 16ᵉ in Ligue 1 with only one victory: Monaco is on the verge of crisis.
Boosted in Brest on Sunday (7-0), Montpellier did not reproduce the same attacking festival at La Mosson against the red lantern Ajaccio (2-0), but held the shock in a meeting which could have escaped him. The two teams indeed played the second period at 10 against 10 after the red cards addressed to the Ajaccien striker Romain Hamouma (37th), for the 2e times of the season, and to Hérault goalkeeper Jonas Omlin (45e). 5th in the standings, Montpellier and their coach Olivier Dall’Oglio continue to dispel doubts after months of poor results.
