Lille Go Top of Ligue 1: Winners and Losers from Week 5 in Ligue 1
It has been another unpredictable week in Ligue 1, and the winners and the losers from Week 5 are not quite the teams you would expect at this stage of the season.
Only two teams in France remain unbeaten after five weeks, and now, only one side is still waiting for its first victory.
We had goals as early as 20 seconds and as late as the 95th minute—then another 19 goals in between. It has been a brilliant weekend of Ligue 1 action topped off with the next chapter of the Marcelo Bielsa story as Marseille beat Evian 3-1 at the Parc des Sports in the final day of the weekend.
We had a number of players making their debuts, as this was the first game for sides to try out the players that they had brought in before the end of the transfer window. The international break gave the smaller sides a chance to work on their game plan after Week 4.
Let’s have a look to see who that went well for. Here are the winners and the losers from Week 5 in Ligue 1.
Winners: Much-Needed Win for Lyon
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Hubert Fournier has not enjoyed the best start to his career in Lyon. After an amazingly successful spell in charge at Stade de Reims, he was brought in to help Lyon into a new era.
With three defeats in their first four games, Lyon recorded the worst start in the team’s history. On Friday, they had a chance to rectify that against Monaco at the Stade Gerland.
Corentin Tolisso's second-half goal gave the home side a 2-1 lead and earned them a much-needed victory.
After being knocked out of the Europa League by Romanian side Astana, OL can now concentrate on getting more of their first-team players fit again and focus on the league campaign.
Lyon had taken the lead through young Nabil Fekir after some excellent play between him, Alexandre Lacazette and Steed Malbranque. It was a much-improved performance from Les Gones, and hopefully with the likes of Mohamed Yattara and Yoann Gourcuff coming back to fitness, it should relieve some pressure off Fournier.
Obviously, the win helps.
Winners: Lille and Montpellier Building Home Fortresses
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There were successful home wins for both Lille and Montpellier this weekend, with the three points enough to put Rene Girard's men on top of Ligue 1 by the end of the weekend.
Against Nantes at the Stade Pierre Mauroy, the first half was definitely one to forget as both the away side and Lille failed to inspire much in the way of positive football. Jordan Veretout hit the post for Nantes from outside the box as the home side were floundering to create anything of note.
Girard, banned from the dugout for two games, gave his side a massive telling off during the break, and it worked. Lille came out all guns blazing. Divock Origi headed in Florent Balmont's right-footed cross within a minute of the restart.
"50% - @DivockOrigi has scored/assisted three of @losclive's six league goals this season. Maestro.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) September 14, 2014"
Within three minutes, it was 2-0, and the game was over. Origi turned provider, sliding the ball into the feet of Rony Lopes, and the Manchester City loanee placed his left-footed shot beyond Maxime Dupe.
Nantes didn't have enough quality to put pressure on the Lille lead, and the home side used the three points to climb to the top of the Ligue 1 table.
That's now four clean sheets in five games for Les Dogues, and they are on their way to challenging the 21 clean sheets they earned last season.
Montpellier's 1-0 win over Lorient gave them their second home win in a row and made it the first time in 16 months that La Paillade had managed that. Back in 2013, it came at the end of an eight-game home win streak.
Lorient's Lamine Kone unfortunately fired the ball into his own net, but the home fans won't care how they get the victories, as long as they keep coming.
Saturday was only the eighth home win Rolland Courbis' side had managed since that win over Rennes in March 2013. That made it only eight wins in 26 games and is everything you need to know about Montpellier's record since that great run.
Courbis will hope that his side can continue their good home form and help work the 2011/12 Ligue champions away from the relegation zone that they were far too close to last season.
Winners: Alexy Bosetti Is the Hometown Hero
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When Alexy Bosetti was breaking through as a youngster at OGC Nice, the fact he was part of one of the infamous supporter groups, via Paul Rouget of Sports.fr (in French), was often blamed for his passion and aggression getting in the way of his development.
It seems, from performances this season, he has found a way to combine being a player and a fan and channel his energy in a positive manner.
Deep into injury time, with the game against Metz at the Allianz Riviera looking likely to finish 0-0, Bosetti pounced on an error from Guido Milan to score the winning goal. From the reaction of the supporters behind the goal and Bosetti's celebration, you can see that the fans have no problem with their new home-grown hero.
It was quick thinking and opportunism from Bosetti. Moments before Milan's backpass, the forward was lying on the ground seemingly injured. Perhaps playing possum, he leaped up out of view of the camera and pounced on the mistake to win his side three points.
Losers: Toulouse and PSG Continue to Struggle on Their Travels
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Stade de Reims were still looking for their first win of the season before Saturday's game against Toulouse, but a debut goal from new signing David N'Gog stunned Alain Casanova's side at the Stade Auguste Delaune.
Gaetan Courtet's second goal in two games sealed the 2-0 win late on and piled the away travel misery onto the side from the south.
Toulouse has now lost away against Nice, Bastia and Reims, but the wins at home against Lyon and Evian stop it being from a disastrous start to the season.
"6 - Toulouse have lost their last 6 away games in Ligue 1, only Reims are in a worse run (7) in the top flight. Homebird.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) September 13, 2014"
This is Le Tefece at their inconsistent best, and next week, they have Caen at home, so expect three points for the team in purple.
Paris Saint-Germain are the only side in the top nine yet to win away from home after their 1-1 draw away at Rennes.
Draws against Evian and Reims were definitely unexpected, but Rennes were good value for their point. PSG took the lead through the most unlikely of sources, as veteran defender Zoumana Camara knocked home Gregory van der Wiel's low cross before the half-time break.
Rennes' equaliser was very fortunate with substitute Paul-Georges Ntep's pass for Abdoulaye Doucoure going untouched and slipping beneath Salvatore Sirigu and into the goal. Doucoure was onside, but the swing of his right foot didn't touch the ball, aiding in Sirigu's error.
The away form will cause concern for Laurent Blanc, but no matter where they go in Ligue 1, the home side are playing one of their biggest games of the season. It is up to the away side to use its considerable talents to break down these stubborn, well-organised defences.
Losers: Bordeaux's 1st Defeat
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On Sunday afternoon, Bordeaux, who started the week on top of the league, were looking for three points in Guingamp to leapfrog Lille back to top spot.
Guingamp hadn't read the script though.
After their 4-0 defeat away at Lorient, Jocelyn Gourvennec's men reacted superbly to that huge defeat. Scoring twice in the first half left Bordeaux boss Willy Sagnol with too much to do to turn the game around.
Mustapha Diallo headed in the first, and then, Christophe Mandanne's penalty gave Guingamp a well-deserved lead. They were beating Bordeaux to every 50/50 challenge, pressing hard and giving the away side no time to get into its rhythm.
"1814 - Christophe Mandanne hadn't scored in Ligue 1 for 1814 minutes (more than 30 hours). Relief.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) September 14, 2014"
Sagnol had been praised for his ability of turning around games that had started slowly, but this time, he had too much to do. No one in the starting line-up was playing particularly well, the passing wasn't flowing, and the midfield couldn't get striker Cheick Diabate into the game enough.
The Malian striker got his goal late in the second half after a good run from substitute Thomas Toure, but it was too little, too late.
"19 - Cheick Diabaté has scored 19 goals in his last 25 league starts. Sharp.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) September 14, 2014"
Next week's game against Evian will give Sagnol the chance to get it right from the start. New signings, suspensions and injuries have stopped him from using his ideal starting XI. Next week's team selection will be interesting.
