Paris (AFP)

For uninhibited attacks, meet on Sunday on the shores of the Mediterranean, with a duel of contenders for Europe between Nice and Marseille, at the end of a 3rd day of Ligue 1 where Lyon and Lille are looking for a first success.

- The shock: Nice-Marseille, expected show -

Duel of ambitious on the shores of the Mediterranean.

Reinforced by a very active transfer window, both Nice and Marseille (both 4 points) dream of playing the leading roles this season.

Their opposition on Sunday evening at the Allianz Riviera (8:45 p.m.) will allow us to know a little more about the level of these two outsiders, and their ability to remain solid while ensuring the spectacle.

The joy of the Niçois Hicham Boudaoui, Khephren Thuram and Amine Gouiri, after the victory, 4-0 against Lille, August 14, 2021 at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq FRANCOIS LO PRESTI AFP / Archives

On the Nice side, the performance signed with the Lille champion last week gave confidence (4-0).

At OM, on the contrary, errors cost the Vélodrome two points for the fans' return against Bordeaux (2-2).

The two teams have one thing in common: they are full of attacking talents, with Konrad De La Fuente, Dimitri Payet and Cengiz Ünder on one side, Kasper Dolberg, Amine Gouiri and summer rookie Justin Kluivert on the other.

Marseille midfielder Dimitri Payet, scorer against Montpellier, during the 1st day of L1, August 8, 2021 at the Stade de la Mosson Pascal GUYOT AFP / Archives

And with Jorge Sampaoli and Christophe Galtier, the coaches' duel will also smell of powder, the second having been named best technician of last season.

The former Lille coach has already promised that he would instill in Nice the same ingredients: "character, enthusiasm, solidarity".

But we must "stay down to earth," he also said in Lille on Sunday.

Against OM, his former club as a player, will the warning be heard?

Nice coach Christophe Galtier during Matchday 1 of L1 against Reims, August 8, 2021 at the Allianz Riviera stadium Valery HACHE AFP / Archives

- The player: Mohamed Bayo, OL on the hunting board?

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Who would have imagined that the top scorer in Ligue 1 after two days is to be found on the side of a promoted?

Yet it is Mohamed Bayo, the center-forward from Clermont, who prances at the top of the ranking of the best fireworks in the Championship, with three goals on the clock.

The joy of the Clermont striker Mohamed Bayo (2nd g), after his goal scored against Bordeaux, during their L1 match, August 8, 2021 at the Matmut-Atlantique stadium Philippe LOPEZ AFP / Archives

Clermont, 2nd before the 3rd day, hopes to convince his striker, born in the city of Auvergne, to stay with the club despite the insistence of more renowned teams.

Traveling to Lyon on Sunday (1:00 p.m.), the top scorer in Ligue 2, last season, has the opportunity to further raise his odds by scoring against a "big" in the Championship.

This is not the worst time to face OL, plagued by significant doubts after their large setback in Angers (3-0) on Sunday.

Against the top scorer in L1, the Lyonnais will seek to find a player capable of scoring: the Rhône club have scored only one goal this season, the worst total in the Championship.

- The number: 7 goals, fragile Lille defense -

So solid last season to go lift the trophy of champion of France, Lille struggles to keep his cage safe at the start of the season.

With seven goals conceded in two games, Losc is quite simply the 20th and last defense in Ligue 1, and owes its 18th place in the standings only to its draw snatched at the last second in Metz during the 1st day (3 -3).

Behind, the Northerners collapsed against Nice (4-0) for the return of their former coach Christophe Galtier, now at the head of the OGCN.

The joy of the Niçois, after a goal scored against the Lille, during the second day of L1, August 14, 2021 at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq FRANCOIS LO PRESTI AFP / Archives

In Saint-Etienne on Saturday (9:00 p.m.), it will be necessary to tighten the screw in defense at the risk of seeing the doubts turn into an open crisis.

The arrival on Thursday of new Croatian goalkeeper Ivo Grbic, recruited from Atlético, could be very useful.

Croatian Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Ivo Grbic before the La Liga match on September 30, 2020 at El Alcoraz stadium in Huesca Pau BARRENA AFP / Archives

"When things go badly, or even very badly, it is important to purge all that, and therefore it is important to talk to each other," developed coach Jocelyn Gourvennec, who advocates dialogue to revive.

© 2021 AFP