Trainer Peter Bosz won the opening match in the Ligue 1 with Olympique Lyonnais on Friday. Lyon was 2-1 too strong for Ajaccio in front of its own audience. In England, Arsenal opened the Premier League season with a 0-2 win over Crystal Palace.
Lyon, with left back Nicolás Tagliafico in the base, who came over from Ajax, was already ahead 2-0 after twenty minutes. Brazilian Tete opened the scoring on the instructions of captain Alexandre Lacazette, who is back in the south of France after five years at Arsenal. Moments later, Lacazette doubled the lead from a penalty kick after a foul on Tetê.
Lyon had to continue after 25 minutes without goalkeeper Anthony Lopes, who was shown red for torpedoing an Ajaccio who had broken through. From the penalty that followed, Thomas Mangani signed for the connecting goal.
In the injury time of the first half, Ajaccio also lost a player. Romain Hamouma was sent off with his second yellow card. With ten against ten, Bosz’s team held on to the lead in the second half.
Lyon finished in disappointing eighth place in Ligue 1 last season and is therefore missing from Europe this season. Bosz’s formation will continue the competition next Sunday with an away match against FC Lorient.
View the program, the standings and the results in the Ligue 1 here
Arsenal started the Premier League season in a convincing way on Friday.
Arsenal started the Premier League season in a convincing way on Friday. Photo: Getty Images
Arsenal open Premier League with narrow win
The significantly renewed Arsenal was a size too big for Crystal Palace in the first game of the Premier League season. The team of coach Mikel Arteta defeated fellow townsman Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park 2-0.
Arsenal took over Ukrainian winger Oleksandr Zinchenko and Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus from champions Manchester City this summer. Arteta’s team impressed in the preparation with frivolous football and convincing victories against Chelsea (4-0) and Sevilla (6-0), among others.
Arsenal started strong against city rivals Crystal Palace, which is led by former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira. Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli opened the score with a header, after Zinchenko had also put the ball in front of the goal.
The home team went looking for the equalizer after the break, but in the 85th minute Marc Guéhi headed a cross from Bukayo Saka into his own goal (0-2). Former Ajax player Jairo Riedewald stayed on the bench at Crystal Palace.
View the program, the position and the results in the Premier League here