Ligue 1 Roundup, Matchday 2
This is a summary of the matches that took place during Matchday 2 of the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season over the weekend, featuring thrilling games, surprising results, and notable performances by players.
PSG 6-0 Montpellier
Paris Saint-Germain extended their impressive winning run against Montpellier to 11 league games, crushing La Paillade 6-0 at the Parc des Princes in a powerful demonstration of dominance over their Ligue 1 competitors. With six points and 10 goals from their first two matches, PSG manager Luis Enrique couldn’t have hoped for a better start. Meanwhile, Michel Der Zakarian, coaching the opposing team, will need to work on boosting his players’ spirits after a tough night in the French capital.
Lyon 0-2 AS Monaco
Monaco kicked off their Ligue 1 season with two straight wins for the second year in a row, beating a winless Lyon 2-0 at the Groupama Stadium. Last year, Lyon began their top-flight season with two losses for the first time since the 1966/67 season, and although they showed improvement at the start of the new year, they find themselves in the same position again, starting the Ligue 1 season with consecutive defeats. For Monaco, two wins out of two, it’s an ideal start for Adi Hütter as he aims to close the six-point gap to champions Paris Saint-Germain from last season.
Lille 2-0 Angers
Lille extended their impressive unbeaten streak from last season to seven games with a 2-0 victory at home against Angers, maintaining their flawless start to the Ligue 1 season. The match was relatively easy for Lille, despite the close score, and they were particularly happy to achieve a third consecutive clean sheet after their 2-0 win over SK Slavia Prague in the Champions League play-off earlier in the week. Angers faced another defeat without scoring, similar to their loss against RC Lens in their league opener, highlighting some tough lessons for the newly promoted team.
St Etienne 0-2 Le Havre
Le Havre achieved their first win of the Ligue 1 season with a 2-0 victory over Saint-Étienne, thanks to two goals in the second half. This result extended their unbeaten streak against Saint-Étienne to three matches (two wins and one draw). On the other hand, Saint-Étienne has started their season with two consecutive losses, and although it’s still early in the season, it is evident that they need significant improvement to avoid a quick drop back to Ligue 2.
RC Lens 2-0 Brest
Will Still’s impressive beginning at RC Lens continued as his team secured a 2-0 win against Stade Brestois, marking their fifth unbeaten match out of six. Despite a few tense moments and a late red card for substitute Machado, it was largely a smooth performance for Still’s squad. In contrast, Eric Roy’s Brest is struggling, having conceded seven goals in their first two games and currently sitting at the bottom of the Ligue 1 standings.
Strasbourg 3-1 Rennes
Strasbourg secured their first Ligue 1 victory of the season by beating Rennes 3-1 at the Stade de la Meinau, marking their third consecutive unbeaten match against Rennes for the first time since 1999. This win gave Liam Rosenior his first competitive win and Strasbourg their second victory in the last seven top-flight matches. On the other hand, Rennes experienced their first loss in six away games to start the season as they continue to seek their first back-to-back Ligue 1 wins since February.
OGC Nice 1-1 Toulouse
OGC Nice faced a disappointing 1-1 draw against Toulouse at the Allianz Riviera. Toulouse equalized with just over 15 minutes remaining, thanks to substitute Shavvy Babicka, who controlled a cross from Yann Gboho and fired it into the top of the net. As the match progressed, Toulouse gained momentum and sought a winning goal, but Nice managed to secure their first point of the season. On the other hand, Toulouse rallied to achieve their second consecutive draw of the season, maintaining their strong away performance from the previous year.
Nantes 2-0 Auxerre
Nantes overcame their Stade de la Beaujoire struggles by achieving their first victory of the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season with a 2-0 win against Auxerre. Despite Auxerre being down a player, Nantes faced some tension as they sought their first home league win since December 2023, but a spectacular late solo goal from Bahereba Guirassy added a perfect touch to their day. On the other hand, Auxerre faced a harsh reality check after starting their season with a win against Nice.
Marseille 2-2 Reims
Roberto De Zerbi managed to avoid defeat in his first competitive home match as Marseille played to a thrilling 2-2 draw against Reims at the Stade Vélodrome. This result marked the first time in six encounters that both teams shared points. With over 15 minutes left, the stage was set for an exciting finish, but neither team could find the winning goal, resulting in a draw for the first time since December 2021. This match represents Marseille’s first setback of the season, while Luka Elser can take pride in Reims’ strong second-half performance, even as they continue to seek their first league victory of the season.