Ligue 1 Weekend Review

Every weekend (if I feel like it), I'll provide a weekend wrap-up for all of the Ligue 1 happenings. I'm sure that the Venn diagram of people interested in these results would have an overlap of 2, but I'm going to do it anyway. Why? Because I have no life. Join me after the jump for all of the fun results.


Saturday, August 16

SM Caen 3-1 Valenciennes FC - This game was over before it started, with Caen scoring all 3 of their goals before the 30th minute. Valenciennes responded right before the half, and then everyone slept through the second 45 minutes with the exception of 2 yellow cards to Caen (1 to goal-scorer Eluchans - he's a double threat!).

Lille (LOSC) 1-3 Le Mans - After an early goal from Halsted, Le Mans got a brace from Maiga sandwiched around Lille's lone goal from Bastos (who also picked up a yellow card - these goal-scorers were snippy!). Of note for our EPL (suck it, Barclay's!) - former Liverpool scrib Le Tallec also picked up a yellow card. Wonderful contribution to the match.

FC Nantes 1-1 AS Monaco FC - Monaco scored very early (Meriem, at 4 minutes), and Nantes got a later goal from Keseru, but this match was more notable for the 7 yellow cards given out (including within a 5 minute span).

Nice 2-1 AS Nancy Lorraine - One of the more entertaining matches of the weekend, the scoring was opened by Nice (Remy, in the 34th minute) but Nancy equalized on an injury-time PK in the first half (taken by Gavanon). Nice escaped with the win on a 90th minute strike from Traore.

AS Saint-Etienne 2-1 FC Sochaux-Montbeliard - Saint-Etienne scored both goals early on a Matuidi strike and a well-taken Feindouno PK. Sochaux kept it respectable with a 75th minute goal from Perquis.

Toulouse 2-1 Havre - Yet another game with an early goal, as Alassane struck for Le Havre in the 11th minute. They were unable to hold on to the lead, however, as Toulouse slotted home two goals in the second half (Congre, Gignac).

Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Fc Girondins de Bordeaux - The lone goal in the match came in the second half on a 53rd minute strike from Hoarau. Claude Makelele managed to entertain the crowd by picking up a yellow card in the first half.


Sunday, August 17th

Grenoble 1-0 Rennes - A 21st minute goal from Arkour was all that Grenoble needed to down Rennes, and the rest of the match was marred by boring, slow-paced football. Carlos Bocanegra got the start for Rennes, but did nothing notable.

FC Lorient 0-0 Olympique Lyonnais - In a poor result for Lyon, they were held to a scoreless draw by Lorient. Although Juninho, Toulalan and Benzema all started, there was a relative lack of offense for Lyon, particularly in the second half. However, Fabio Grosso and Sydney Govou both managed to pick up yellow cards.

Olympique de Marseille 4-0 Auxerre - L'OM bossed Auxerre all over the pitch after scoring an early goal (Niang in the 17th minute). The second half was marked by more dominance, as Marseille managed three more goals (Grichting OG for Auxerre, Grandin, Zenden) and made the Auxerre squad look like a reserve side.

So, after Matchday 2, the top of the table for Ligue 1 is: (1) Grenoble; (2) Marseille; (3) Lyon; and (4) Monaco.