Algeria attacker Amine Gouiri don score twice for 20 minutes as Marseille beat Strasbourg 4-0 for Friday for the first game of the French Ligue 1 season.
Gouiri bin net inside one minute into the second half before e claim im second from the spot kick after the visitors get Samir El Mourabet sent off for violent conduct. E take advantage of some superb work from Igor Paixao, the Algerian international expertly beat the Strasbourg goalkeeper with a left-footed strike to score the first goal of the season for 46th minute.
Just before the hour mark, Morocco‘s El Mourabet bin receive red card for kicking Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Gouiri then double the lead with penalty before 20-year-old Keyliane Abdallah and Denmark’s Hojbjerg score late to make am 4-0. The result extend Marseille unbeaten league run over Strasbourg wey dey stretch back to 1997.
“Na joy,” Gouiri tell Ligue 1+. “We really want to start well for our supporters, and job done.” Gaffer Bruno Genesio, wey dey lead the side for first time this season, talk say e still dey wait make dem finish salary spend before e fit bring new players. “We have to drop our salary spend,” Genesio tell Ligue 1+. “Until that’s done, we won’t be able to recruit.”
For Saturday, last season runners-up Lens welcome Auxerre. Lens arrive as Super Cup winners after 1-0 win over PSG, with Florian Thauvin scoring. Pierre Sage don leave for Crystal Palace, but Dino Toppmoller side still get quality. Newly-promoted Le Mans, wey don unbeaten for 15 home games, dey host Brest wey end last season with nine-match winless run. Le Mans na first top-flight game since 2010, and dem get backing from consortium wey include Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and tennis star Novak Djokovic.
The other highlight na Troyes, Ligue 2 champions, wey go play Paris FC for Liam Rosenior first league game in charge of the side from the capital city. Paris FC don spend well this summer, only behind PSG for spending. Champions Paris Saint-Germain begin dia tilt at record-extending 14th French top-flight title at Rennes for Sunday. The match bin originally dey Parc des Princes but LFP move am to Roazhon Park so the Paris pitch fit ready for later fixtures. Rennes finish sixth last season, only two points off third, with Esteban Lepaul wey score 21 Ligue 1 goals last season. PSG just lose 1-0 to Lens for Super Cup, so e go be interesting match.
