Paris (AFP)

Raymond Domenech's second coaching career began with Nantes with a scoreless shock against rival Rennes (0-0) on Wednesday for the resumption of Ligue 1, while awaiting Mauricio Pochettino's first steps in the evening on the Paris SG bench.

For this 18th day, all the spotlight was on Beaujoire with Domenech's first match with the Canaries, more than ten years after the troubled end of his tenure at the head of the Blues (2004-2010).

Officially appointed on Boxing Day, the dean of L1 coaches (almost 69 years old) did not do any magic but he did not bow to the Rennes favorite, who returned to the podium after a gloomy autumn.

His group was "attentive, focused", as he had hoped before the game, if not very dangerous.

For his first team composition, Domenech kept the 4-4-2 system of his predecessor Christian Gourcuff, but gave the chance to Kalifa Coulibaly, used very little this season.

The striker distinguished himself by a pass for Imran Louza (14th) not far from being decisive and a distant header (81st) passed just above the Rennes goal.

Nantes is 17th with four points ahead of the relegation.

- Monaco treats -

There was a lot more spectacle in Lorient where Monaco won 5-2 after being hung up for a long time by the promoted Breton, reduced to ten at the very start of the second half.

The game was packed after the hour of play and the goal of Aleksandr Golovin who, after four months without playing, scored (64th) five seconds after coming into play!

Lorient defender Andreaw Gravillon (67th) equalized shortly after, Kevin Volland (68th), Sofiane Diop (78th) and Guillermo Maripán (88th) allowed ASM to take three precious points in the race for places European.

Without his N.10 Hatem Ben Arfa, Bordeaux for its part failed to win in Metz (0-0).

As for Strasbourg, who had left L1 at the end of December with two defeats without scoring a single goal, he found it at a festival against Nîmes (5-0).

The Alsatians pressed the red lantern with three goals in particular at the end of the first period.

The fit man Ludovic Ajorque started hostilities (37th) before the achievements of Habib Diallo (38th) then Kenny Lala (45th + 1) from the penalty spot.

Ajorque scored twice (51st) before missing a penalty (58th).

- Nice surprised in Brest -

Unlike Nîmes, Nice does not have to worry about keeping it in L1.

But his defensive feverishness still played tricks on him during the 2-0 defeat in Brest.

Steve Mounié (22nd) took advantage of a loss of ball from Nice before the former Aiglon Franck Honorat (27th) exploited a too soft back pass, under the eyes of the young central defender William Saliba, loaned Monday by Arsenal.

Brest goalkeeper Gautier Larsonneur almost relaunched Nice with a completely missed clearance which bounced off his own goal (36th), a scene which made Internet users happy.

In the evening (9 p.m.), the performance of Paris SG in Saint-Etienne will be scrutinized for the first on the Parisian bench of Maurico Pochettino, the Argentine coach appointed Saturday after the ousting of Thomas Tuchel at the end of December.

Leader Lyon receives Lens while Lille, tied on points with OL, welcomes Angers.

In small form before the end of the year celebrations, Olympique de Marseille hope at the Vélodrome to obtain against Montpellier its first victory since December 12.

© 2021 AFP