Great Week for Gignac: Winners and Losers from Week 9 in Ligue 1
After this weekend’s games we are now around one-quarter of the way through the season and Marseille were the biggest winners this week, the 2-1 win over SM Caen means they go into the international break five points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
OM needed a late winner from Andre-Pierre Gignac to take all three points away from Caen. Nice also needed a late goal to salvage a point at home to Montpellier.
The biggest wins of the weekend were for Lyon and Evian, as they both recorded 3-0 victories at home, Bastia, Saint-Etienne and Guingamp were not as lucky in their home matches, all three tasting defeat.
It was not the highest scoring round of games, only 20 from the ten games, but it didn’t lack any excitement.
Here are some winners and losers from Week 9 in Ligue 1.
Winners: Andre-Pierre Gignac
1 of 8
It was been a week to remember for Marseille striker Andre-Pierre Gignac. He would have been delighted when he found out that Didier Deschamps had announced that the 29-year striker had won a place in his national team squad for the friendlies against Portugal and Armenia, but it wouldn’t end there.
Deep into injury time on Saturday, it was Gignac that grabbed a half-yard of space in the Caen penalty area, the burly forward smashed his shot high into the net and grabbed Marseille’s winner in the 2-1 victory at the Stade Michel d’Ornano.
That gives Gignac a record of nine goals in nine games this season, it is the best start Gignac has made to a season in 10 years, and the most he had managed previously is five. Gignac’s contract is up in the summer, if he continues to play in this manner, there will be a whole host of clubs queuing up for his signature.
Losers: Girondins de Bordeaux
2 of 8
If Bordeaux Coach Willy Sagnol is serious about his side finishing in the top three, games like the one against Stade de Reims on Friday are the type they need to win in order to push for a place on the podium.
Despite edging possession and shots on goal, it was the home side that came away with the much needed three points. Reims winger Olivier Fortes looked like he was trying to swing in a cross from the right, but it took a touch off the toe of former West Ham United player Julien Faubert and the deflection beat Cedric Carrasso at his near post.
"1 - Reims scored on their only shot on target against Bordeaux (8 shots attempted). Efficient.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 3, 2014"
Les Girondins are still second but they fall five points behind Marseille and there are seven sides all on 14 points, just three behind Sagnol’s side. Bordeaux need to make sure there are no more similar slip ups in the next few weeks.
Winners: Daniel Wass
3 of 8
Evian Thonon Gaillard endured a horrible start to the season, despite the draw against Paris Saint-Germain in week three, it was expected that the side from Annecy were set for a tough campaign.
On Saturday they faced a tough home match against in-form Metz; the away side had won three-in-a-row going into the game and were favourites to make it four.
Pascal Dupraz side were no walkovers though, having won two on the bounce and it was Les Roses that would come out on top, with midfield sensation Daniel Wass to thank for the stunning 3-0 victory.
"3 - Evian TG have won 3 Ligue 1 games in a row for the 2nd time in their history (3 - February-March 2012). Rebirth.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 4, 2014"
It was Wass that started their run, scoring the first in the 2-1 win over Lens, and then on Saturday he scored Evian’s second from the penalty spot and overall made an inspired performance.
When Wass plays well, Evian play well. The Danish midfielder is the key if ETG are to survive in Ligue 1 for another season.
Losers: Claude Makelele
4 of 8
SC Bastia has finished the week second bottom in Ligue 1, not quite the start to his managerial career that Claude Makelele was hoping for.
That means that the side from Corsica only has one win in their opening nine games. Four defeats and four draws leaves them on seven points, only one ahead of Guingamp who are rock bottom.
Makelele’s side were facing FC Lorient on Saturday, the team from Brittany had lost four on the spin and were looking just to avoid defeat at the Stade Armand Cesari. However, the performance from Bastia was lacking any belief, understanding, or any attacking intent.
Lorient won the game 2-0, and in the weekend where Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-0, it was former Arsenal player Gilles Sunu that scored the second goal on Saturday. It leaves Bastia winless in their last six and it looks like the passionate fans that fill the stadium every week are starting to lose faith in their young coach.
Winners: Lloyd Palun
5 of 8
Last weekend in the Derby du Cote d’Azur, Nice left-back Lloyd Palun put in a wonderful defensive performance, stopping AS Monaco from causing his team any real problems going forward.
His excellent display helped Nice pick up a shock 1-0 win, and then on Saturday night it was the defender that popped up in injury time to grab Nice a late point from the jaws of defeat against Montpellier.
The away side took the lead on the 72nd minute through Brazilian defender Hilton’s diving header, but Nice and Palun didn’t give up.
Deep into injury time, a high looping cross was played into the box from the left; Palun got his head to it and forced a save from Geoffrey Jourdren. Palun’s luck was in when the save rebounded off his body and beat the ‘keeper at the near post. It was a lesson in never giving up.
Palun has been part of the Nice squad for five seasons now, and Saturday’s goal was his first-ever goal for the club.
The point takes Nice up to 11th place and they are now unbeaten in the last three games.
Losers: Rene Girard
6 of 8
Sunday was a day to forget for Lille coach Rene Girard. He was sent to the stands after a foul-mouth tirade against the fourth official after Lyon took a 1-0 lead, his side then went on to lose 3-0.
Lille had only conceded twice before Sunday’s game, Lacazette single-handedly scoring more than the other eight sides Lille had faced so far this season.
"3 – Lille have lost by a 3+ goals margin in Ligue 1 for the first time since August 2009, v Paris SG. Snag.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 5, 2014"
This is the second-time this season that Girard has been sent to the stands, and he had to serve a two-game ban for the first dismissal, this time it could be longer.
The away side could only name six substitutes at the Stade Gerland on Sunday, with eight players, including five midfielders out injured, but it shouldn’t mask what was a dreadful showing from Girard and his team.
Divock Origi came off the bench in the second-half, but Lille’s problem was getting the ball from midfield to attack. As good as Lille has been defensively, they lack imagination and style going forward.
Girard gets the credit for shaping the wonderful defensive record, but he should come under criticism for the way his teams play going forward. After nine games, they have only scored seven times, that’s as many as Bastia and Lens sitting 17th and 18th in the league.
Winners: FC Nantes
7 of 8
Nantes were not in the spotlight much this summer, mostly due to the fact that they couldn’t sign any new players due to a transfer embargo.
Without being able to strengthen their squad, Michel Der Zakarian’s side were predicted to struggle, but on Sunday, the 1-0 victory away at Guingamp sent Nantes up to fourth in the Ligue 1 table before PSG played Monaco on Sunday night.
Les Canaris go into the international break in fifth after PSG’s point against Monaco, but it will be much higher than they would have expected to be at this stage of the season.
"200 - Georges-Kévin Nkoudou has scored the 200th Ligue 1 goal since the beginning of the season. Champagne.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 5, 2014"
The winning goal came from young 19-year-old winger Georges N’Koudou. He made his first start of the season and has looked impressive whenever given the chance this season. He has been called up to the France under-20 side, and after his stunning goal on Sunday, you can see why.
Losers: Edinson Cavani
8 of 8
It was another mixed night for the PSG striker. Yet again another 90 minutes without a goal for the Uruguayan, that’s now 394 minutes without a goal and he is starting to lose the confidence of the Parisian fans.
Once again the forward was outshone by the two forwards beside him, with Javier Pastore playing one of his best games in a PSG shirt and Lucas Moura scoring the opening goal.
Whenever PSG got into a promising goal scoring, the ball would come to Cavani’s feet and the forward would either make the wrong decision, or he’d stumble and give the ball away.
Cavani only managed two shots during the games, PSG managed eight overall, but a confident showing from the striker could have brought a lot more to the attack.
This season, his work rate has been superb, his overall contribution to the team can’t be faulted, but he is there to score goals and provide a threat in the final third. In recent weeks you can see the confidence has drained from him.
Blanc needs to find a way to get the best out of Cavani once again, without that, both player and coach could be in trouble.
