Skip to content

Ligue 1: Bielsa starts with a bang as Marseille and Bastia share 3-3 draw

Marseille's Argentinian head coach Marcelo Bielsa reacts
Image: Marseille's Argentinian head coach Marcelo Bielsa reacts

Marcelo Bielsa's debut in the Marseille dugout was a typically chaotic affair as careless Marseille were held to a 3-3 draw by Claude Makelele's Bastia.

Life is rarely boring for clubs under the supervision of Argentinian tactician Bielsa, who has been lured to the Stade Velodrome to revive the flagging fortunes of the nine-time French champions.

Standing in the adjacent technical area on Saturday night was former France midfielder Makelele, also making his Ligue 1 coaching bow, yet some 24 years behind Bielsa in terms of experience.

He won the tactical battle, however, as second-half goals from Gadji Tallo and Christopher Maboulou reined in Marseille's two-goal lead to spoil the mainlanders' opening-night party.

Maboulou had opened the scoring before Romaric's own-goal and a brace from Andre-Pierre Gignac gave Marseille the initiative, for a while at least.

Willy Sagnol made a winning start to life as a Ligue 1 manager thanks to Cheick Diabate, who fired Bordeaux to a 1-0 victory at Montpellier.

At 37 years old, the former France and Bayern Munich defender is embarking on his first campaign as a club manager following a spell in charge of the French Under-21 side, and his future looks bright.

Maxime Poundje was the creator for the goal, his cross finding Diabate in a perfect position to steer a wonderful acrobatic effort beyond Paillade goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren in the 17th minute.

Nice edged a frantic battle with Toulouse to run out 3-2 winners at the Allianz Riviera.

Martin Braithwaite and Wissam Ben Yedder scored to turn the game on its head following Dario Cvitanich's early opener, but the Argentinian notched again before Mathieu Bodmer won it for Nice.

Ligue 2 champions Metz ground out a point on their return to the top flight, frustrating 2011 champions Lille in a goalless draw at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Fellow Ligue 1 newcomers Caen got their season off to the perfect start after they claimed a 3-0 win away at Evian.

Mathieu Duhamel scored twice following Ngolo Kante's opener as Caen stormed to a three-goal lead by the half-time whistle before holding onto their advantage in the second period.

St Etienne claimed a 2-0 away win over Guingamp in the opening game of their campaign thanks to a goal in each half from Mevlut Erding and substitute Yacine Bammou scored within seconds of coming on to secure Nantes a hard-fought 1-0 win over Lens.

Around Sky