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Lots of work ahead for Paris Saint-Germain
Last season, PSG replaced Montpellier Herault as the champions of France and the opening game of the season was fittingly enough, between the two sides. In front of a capacity crowd at Stade de la Mosson, Laurent Blanc marked his return to Ligue 1 football in a 1-1 draw with Jean Fernandez’s side.
Throughout the game, PSG were unsettled by La Paillade’s pressing and the holders trailed at the interval thanks to Remy Cabella’s goal in the tenth minute of the game. Les Parisiens managed to level the game that they could have lost had Montpellier showed more composure in the last third. Last season, PSG were criticised for frequent less than inspiring showings and it appears that despite presence of so many stars, Laurent Blanc has his work cut out for him.
Flacao introduces himself to French football
AS Monaco celebrated their return to the Championnat with a good 2-0 win over Bordeaux. Radamel Falcao and Emannuele Riviere scored a goal each for Claudio Ranieri’s side and although both goals were scored late in the game, Les Monegasques deserved all three points against a side that could be in for a tough time in the league this season. With Ranieri in charge, it appears that Monaco , spearheaded by Falcao, would pose a great threat to any team they play.
Shoestring budget not a big worry for Lyon
In the last two summer transfer markets, Olympique Lyonnais have operated on a shoestring budget as Jean-Michel Aulas looks to ease the burden on the club’s bulging pay-roll. In order to do that, quite a few players have been sold and it is the club’s youth academy that has been put to great use. The likes of Maxime Gonalons, Alexandre Lacazette and Clement Grenier are the future of French football and in the game against OGC Nice, it was proved that Lyon will be in the thick of things regardless of their financial problems.
Grenier scored two goals for Remi Garde’s side while Yohan Gourcuff showed just why Aulas is not so keen on letting him go. The former Bordeaux midfielder had two assists to his name and scored from a brilliantly taken free-kick.
Marseille looking to crash the party
As has been said a lot in papers this summer that PSG and Monaco could be fighting for the Championelle, it was up to Marseille to prove that there is another team in the mix. Not as rich as their two aforementioned rivals, Les Phoceens started their season in style with a 3-1 win over newly promoted Guingamp in Brittany. Andre-Pierre Gignac, a player who was on the verge of leaving the club last summer, opened scoring. However, it was summer signing from Lille, Dimitri Payet who stole the show by scoring a brace on his competitive debut for Elie Baup’s side.
Lyon and Marseille not out of the mix
Though their coffers are not bulging with wealth, Lyon and Marseille have always been in the thick of things. After great starts, Les Gones and Les Phoceens have reminded everyone just why they are still considered the biggest clubs in France and could possibly take the title fight down the wire if they remain consistent in their displays. By doing so they could send out a strong message to the likes of Monaco and PSG, that they should do more than just spending money in order to win titles in the future.
