Ligue 1 Roundup, Matchday 1
This is a recap of the matches from Matchday 1 of the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season that occurred over the weekend, highlighting exciting games, unexpected outcomes, and standout player performances.
Le Havre 1-4 PSG
Paris Saint-Germain began the Ligue 1 season with a 4-1 win over Le Havre AC at the Stade Océane, scoring three quick goals late in the match. This marks only the third time in ten seasons that PSG has started without a clean sheet, winning 8, drawing 1 and losing 1 during that period. This victory builds on their unbeaten away league record from last season (13 wins and 4 draws), placing them level on points at the top of the table. On the other hand, Le Havre’s loss means they have not won an opening league match since the 2017/18 season (drawing 5 and losing 2).
Brest 1-5 Marseille
The Roberto De Zerbi era began flawlessly for Marseille, who dominated Brest with a 5-1 victory in their Ligue 1 opener, marking their fifth consecutive win on the first matchday. Mason Greenwood and Luis Enrique each scored twice, which clearly deflated Brest’s spirits. Things worsened for Brest when Jordan Amavi fouled Greenwood in the penalty area. Even though Marseille had two players close to completing hat-tricks, Elye Wahi took the penalty. At that point, De Zerbi’s team seemed to ease off, having secured the win. While Marseille will relish this result, placing them at the top of Ligue 1 for the week, it was another tough outing for Brest, who have now gone four home league matches without a win.
Reims 0-2 Lille
Lille extended their unbeaten streak in Ligue 1 season openers to eight consecutive years, securing a hard-fought 2-0 victory over 10-man Reims at the Stade Auguste-Delaune. Achieving a winning start for the first time in five league seasons always seemed unlikely for Reims, and they ultimately failed to improve their impressive home record against Lille in the top division. Lille, on the other hand, defied expectations by claiming only their sixth away win in Ligue 1 out of 18 matches dating back to the beginning of last season.
AS Monaco 1-0 St Etienne
AS Monaco kicked off the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season with a 1-0 win against Saint-Étienne, marking their fifth consecutive victory in the French league. Saint-Étienne struggled to create offensive opportunities until they managed to equalize with about 20 minutes remaining. However, Sissoko’s first-time shot was disallowed for offside after VAR intervention confirmed the decision. This turned out to be Saint-Étienne’s last significant chance, as Monaco maintained control in the final moments to secure all three points. Adi Hütter will be pleased with his team’s growing confidence, while Olivier Dall’Oglio will appreciate his squad’s determined performance, especially given the number of injured players.
Auxerre 2-1 OGC Nice
Auxerre surprised Nice by coming from behind to secure a 2-1 victory at Stade Abbé-Deschamps, breaking a five-match winless streak against them. It seemed that neither team would find a winner, but in the fifth minute of stoppage time, Lasso Coulibaly thrilled the home crowd by scoring a dramatic late goal. After receiving a long ball from goalkeeper Donovan Leon, the substitute skillfully lobbed the advancing Bułka, clinching the win for Auxerre in their return to the top flight.
Toulouse 0-0 Nantes
Toulouse and Nantes faced each other again on the first day of the Ligue 1 season, marking the second consecutive year they have done so. The match ended in a 0-0 draw at Stade de Toulouse, preventing Nantes from avenging their 2-1 defeat from last August. Nantes has now gone eight Ligue 1 openers without a win, drawing 4 and losing 4. However, their head-to-head record against Toulouse has improved, as they have only lost three times in their last 17 encounters.
Montpellier 1-1 Strasbourg
Montpellier prevented Strasbourg from achieving their first away win in Ligue 1 since mid-March, as Téji Savanier’s penalty equalized Habib Diarra’s stunning goal, resulting in a 1-1 draw at the Stade de la Mosson. Savanier’s goal sparked a late surge from Montpellier, but Michel Der Zakarian’s team was unable to produce another moment of brilliance and had to settle for a draw, leaving them without a win in eight of their last nine matches across all competitions. While Strasbourg may feel disappointed about losing points after taking the lead, they showed signs of progress by ending their streak of three consecutive away losses in Ligue 1.
Angers 0-1 RC Lens
Will Still began his time at RC Lens on a high note, leading his team to a narrow 1-0 victory over Ligue 1 newcomers Angers, thanks to a goal from Wesley Saïd at the Raymond Kopa Stadium. As the match went on, Lens appeared increasingly content to defend their slim advantage, with Fofana not having to make any crucial saves. Despite having more possession in the second half, the home team struggled to break through Lens’ solid defense, allowing Lens to secure the win. Overall, Still will be pleased to start with three points, while Angers’ coach Alexandre Dujeux will look for positives as his team adjusts to competing at this level again.
Rennes 3-0 Lyon
Rennes began their Ligue 1 season with a strong 3-0 victory over Lyon, marking their fifth win in the last seven encounters between the two teams. Lyon had a chance to get back into the game with a penalty, but Steve Mandanda saved Georges Mikautadze’s penalty kick. Following that missed opportunity, Lyon struggled to regain their footing, while Rennes appeared more likely to score again, which they did in stoppage time. After finishing at their joint-lowest position in Ligue 1 last season, Rennes will be hoping this impressive performance signals a positive trend for the upcoming months. On the other hand, Lyon will be looking to improve as they aim to build on their previous season’s performance.