Ligue 1: Nîmes takes the lead in the standings after the first day

Five months after his stop due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Ligue 1 resumed its rights this weekend. While the other major European championships are still on a summer break, French footballers have found their way back to the stadium, except for the Parisians and the Lyonnais because of the Champions League. For this first day, Nîmes alone took the lead in the standings after being full on Sunday 23 August against Brest (4-0).

While the Crocodiles week was completely upset by the discovery of four cases of new coronavirus in the pro group, two of which concerned holders according to trainer Jérôme Arpinon, Nîmes Olympique did not cope with half measures. at the Breton club. "We played a consistent match with the right ingredients, but it's not a start to the season with a bang," however calmed the new Gardois technician.

Start in the best possible way. pic.twitter.com/PWag5hbCgQ

And to think that the maintenance of the meeting has long been called into question, like the situation in Marseille, where OM also reached the bar of four positive cases and saw their match against Saint-Étienne postponed. Nice was also affected by the pandemic this week, but Patrick Vieira's men have justified their ambitions, as well as their rich transfer window. Their young recruit dug up in Lyon, Amine Gouiri (20), impressed, signing a magnificent double of curled strikes to reverse a badly embarked meeting against the promoted Lens (2-1), who had been waiting for more than five years for his return to the elite.

A draw for Monaco

There were also shows in Monaco, where coach Niko Kovac experienced a first Ligue 1 match rich in twists and turns. Against Reims (2-2), ASM has multiplied the opportunities, but the Champenois, qualified this season for the preliminary rounds of the Europa League, showed themselves to be icy opportunism.

Led 2-0, the partners of Wissam Ben Yedder therefore had to whip to the end to catch up, thanks to their two central defenders, the former Rémois Axel Disasi (45th + 3) and the young Benoît Badiashile, author of 'a sensational sequence to equalize (55th).

For his return to L1, Lorient was also led by Strasbourg before coming back to the score, and even winning (3-1), with already a goal for the flagship recruit of the Breton transfer window, Adrian Grbic. Alsatians, too, had been disturbed by many cases of Covid-19 in recent weeks.

📊 Quick glance 👀 on the standings following the first 7 matches of the 1st day of @ Ligue1UberEats! pic.twitter.com/rUYiqZ5Q4S

Les Merlus are second, just ahead of Nice and Angers, winner 1-0 in Dijon on Saturday. Follow behind all the authoring teams of a draw, including two candidates for Europe, Lille and Rennes, who neutralized each other on Saturday night (1-1).

Due to the postponement of the Marseille match and the rescheduling of those of PSG and Lyon due to the Champions League, only seven duels were scheduled for the weekend. The three top names will enter the running next week, for the second day.

With AFP

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