Ligue 1 Superthread 2018/19

Full-Time and Nimes have beaten Marseille 3-1. So much for my prediction but I got the scoreline right at least!

Nimes were excellent and worthy of the win. Bouanga, Thioub and Ripart were a big threat and worked their socks off. Right-back Alakouch also gave Ocampos nothing in the game. Nimes look like they will be great entertainment value this season. They also came back from 3-1 down to win 4-3 last week - and that was with 10 men.

Marseille can have a legitimate complaint about not getting a penalty. There was shirt-pulling on two occasions and I don't know why VAR didn't flag it up. They didn't deserve anything on overall play though, and they created little. Sakai and Caleta-Car were given a torrid time. I think they really need to get a striker in before the window closes.

Must say the two promoted sides have been a breath of fresh air with how they've started the campaign.

1-0 Lyon. Nice goal from Terrier to open the deadlock against his old club. Lyon fortunate to be ahead as they've been poor and Strasbourg have had the better chances.

Update: 1-0 Lyon at Half-Time. Strasbourg have played well; Lyon have been really poor, misplacing passes all over the shop. Traore and Morel being big culprits. Ndombele probably Lyon's best player. Depay hasn't offered much in attack as Mitrovic has dealt with him well. Strasbourg though lucky to not have Thomasson sent off for a high challenge on Morel. I think the ref's had a bad game.

Bordeaux beat Monaco 2-1 earlier in a great game. Bordeaux were the better side but missed chances. They hit the post in the first half and had a penalty saved by Benaglio late on in the second half. Pietro Pellegri, the most expensive 16 year old in the game, came on and got the equaliser for Monaco with a great strike, but Francois Kamano won it in the 92nd minute with a lovely finish.

In the other match Lille beat Guingamp 3-0. Jonathan Bamba with two goals while Nicolas Pepe had two assists. Those two are forging a good relationship but it may be disrupted if a club comes in for Pepe. I think someone should as he's one of the most exciting talents in France. Guingamp are still without a point after three games.

Marseille vs Rennes is the evening game. Game is on BT Sport 1 (kick-off 8pm). Teams are in:

Marseille XI: Pele; Sarr, Kamara, Rami, Amavi; Luiz Gustavo, Sanson; Thauvin, Payet, Ocampos; Germain.

Rennes XI: Koubek; Traore, Mexer, Da Silva, Bensebaini; Gelin; Bourigeaud, Andre, Lea-Siliki, Grenier; Sarr.

Marseille drop Sakai and Caleta-Car after the 3-1 loss to Nimes; Sarr and Kamara replace them.

Ismaila Sarr is worth keeping an eye on for Rennes up front. Very exciting prospect. Bourigeaud is also a talent.

I can see Rennes causing a few scares but I'll go for a 2-1 home win.

Oh my goodness! Sarr makes it 2-0 following a massive howler from Pele, spilling it right at his feet. Just before half-time too.

https://twitter.com/_3emeMiTemps/status/1033804135261462530

Very interesting second half coming up. Rennes have been the better side. Sarr causing loads of problems. Marseille look devoid of ideas and Germain not offering a lot up top. Really feel they need a quality centre-forward before the deadline shuts.

2-2! Rennes O.G. Bensebaini heads into his own net after a great cross from Ocampos. Just under twenty minutes remaining.

Full-Time: Game ends 2-2 which is a fair result. Rennes were better in the first half but Marseille were better in the second. Some interesting games coming up in the next round of fixtures. Vieira and his struggling Nice are away to Lyon on Friday, while the Sunday evening game is Monaco vs Marseille.

In other news, reports tonight suggest Henry won't be taking over at Bordeaux. Reportedly his salary demands and transfer intentions causing difficulties. Ranieri and Conte said to be of interest to the owners as alternatives. I could see Ranieri as a possible contender. No chance of Conte surely. Based on what I saw of Bordeaux today against Monaco, I'd be tempted to give it to the caretaker coach Eric Bedouet. I was impressed with how they performed.

Very interesting game this evening as Patrick Vieira's under-pressure Nice team travel to take on the tough challenge of Lyon. Nice have 1 point from 9 so far and were beaten 4-0 at home by Dijon last week. Lyon are doing better with 6 points from 9. Team news:

Lyon XI: Lopes; Rafael, Marcelo, Denayer, Mendy; Tousart, Ndombele; Traore, Fekir, Terrier; Depay.

Nice XI: Benitez; Jallet, Herelle, Dante, Sarr, Boscagli; Lees-Melou, Tameze, Cyprien; Saint-Maximin, Balotelli.

First time Walter Benitez starts a league game for Nice under Vieira, having been the number one under Favre last season. I think that's smart as I rate him higher than Cardinale. Balotelli also makes his first start of the season after his proposed move to Marseille fell through.

For Lyon, Fekir starts for the first time after returning as a sub last week. New signing Jason Denayer makes his debut following his arrival from Man City. Interested to see how he gets on.

I can see this being another tough evening for Nice. You have to wonder how motivated Balotelli will be seeing as he clearly wanted to leave. Nice's defending was terrible last week. Boscagli, Herelle and Dante were very poor.

I'll go for Lyon to make a statement with a 3-0 win. Game is on BT Sport 3 from 7.45.

Update: Goalless at Half-Time. Nice have done well so far crowding out Lyon's efforts to find a way through. Fekir looks like he's lacking match sharpness which I suppose is to be expected since it's his first start of the season. Depay has had some nice touches. Lyon's defence has impressed and Denayer has looked solid. Saint-Maximin looks lively for Nice. Balotelli has been okay but needs better service.

Full-Time and Nice win 1-0 giving Vieira a much needed boost. So much for my prediction of a strong home win. Nice keeper Walter Benitez was fantastic and made a series of big saves. Lyon had the chances to score but couldn't take them. Nice did well on the break through Saint-Maximin. I would have given him MOTM if not for Benitez's heroics.

Main positive for Lyon is Denayer's solid debut and 90 minutes under Fekir's belt. They need to pick themselves up. They've got great talent but don't seem to have enough desire. I'd love to see this side under a better coach than Genesio. Will never happen but I'd love to see Wenger with this squad and see what he could do.

Strasbourg vs Nantes is live from 7pm tomorrow on BT Sport 2. Looking forward to seeing Nantes under Cardoso's possession style for the first time.

All Saturday's scores:

Nimes 2-4 PSG
Angers 1-0 Lille
Dijon 0-2 Caen
Guingamp 1-2 Toulouse
Reims 0-1 Montpellier
Strasbourg 2-3 Nantes

Strasbourg vs Nantes was good fun. I thought the home side were a bit unfortunate. The first Nantes goal was heading wide but deflected off Mitrovic for an O.G. Second Nantes goal was from a break following a decent penalty shout for Strasbourg. Have to say though some of Strasbourg's passing was very poor. Nantes look like they will be good entertainment but their possession style needs work. Strasbourg's second came via Nantes defender Toure losing the ball just outside his own box. I thought Ibrahima Sissoko played well for Strasbourg. Waris and Sala were a handful for Nantes and worked hard, while Boschilia came on as a sub and looked good. Pleased to see him doing well after his horrible injury at Monaco.

In the other games, Dijon's 100 per cent record comes to an end with a surprise home defeat. Toulouse are going well as they leave Guingamp still looking for a first point. Promoted side Reims have followed up two opening wins by losing their next two. And Angers record a surprise win at home to Lille with the away side likely paying the price for selling key players before the window shut.

Interesting that so far this round Angers are the only side with a home win. 6 of the 7 games this round have been won by the away side. It feels like the league is more competitive this year. PSG unsurprisingly out in front but they've been given a scare by Guingamp and now today Nimes. Curious to see how they get on with their tougher fixtures in October/November. Still expect them to win the title handily all the same.

Fixtures to finish off the round tomorrow are Saint-Etienne vs Amiens, Rennes vs Bordeaux and the big 8pm clash of Monaco vs Marseille. The latter match should be good with Monaco coming off a surprise defeat last week to Bordeaux while Marseille could only draw with Rennes. Neither side can afford to drop more points.

Half-Time and it's 1-0 Marseille. The goal was the last action of the half. A terrific cross from the right by Payet and Mitroglou with a great header. I think the away side deserve the lead. Monaco have looked short of ideas.

FALCAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

They've turned it around. Rami again involved as he fails to clear and Falcao tucks it home from close range.

Rami having a mare.

Oh my goodness! Valere Germain scores a header against his old club to make it 3-2 in the 90th minute! Doesn't celebrate the goal. I think it was his first touch since coming on as a sub too.

Full-Time and Marseille win 3-2. Great game. Marseille led 1-0, Monaco turned it around to lead 2-1 and then Marseille came back to win 3-2.

Thauvin was the difference maker. He provided a goal and an assist when he came on for the last half-hour. Good debut from Strootman who was solid.

I feel Monaco are in a transition phase at the minute. They've a lot of new faces and Jardim still has to figure out his best team. Haven't got to see Golovin yet either. I think they'll be okay domestically in the long run but I'd worry for them in the Champions League against more settled sides.