Monaco vs. Nice: A Goalless Derby
In an eventful derby on the French Riviera, Monaco managed to salvage a goalless draw against Nice, despite a significant blunder from their goalkeeper, Philipp Köhn. The incident occurred in the 72nd minute when Köhn attempted to prevent the ball from going out for a corner. Unfortunately, he misplayed his kick, gifting possession to Sofiane Diop, who was poised just outside the penalty area. Diop’s attempt at a curling shot seemed destined for the net until defender Thilo Kehrer made a spectacular clearance just in time to keep the scoreline level.
Under the guidance of new coach Claude Puel, Nice has displayed a renewed spirit, while Monaco, driven by Sébastien Pocognoli, secured their fourth clean sheet in the last five outings. During the match, United States international Folarin Balogun came close to scoring, striking the crossbar in the third minute from a close distance, showcasing the attacking potential of the mid-table Monaco side.
PSG vs. Marseille: A Tense Rivalry
On the same day, Paris Saint-Germain aimed to reclaim their position at the top of the league as they were set to host their fierce rivals, Marseille. This encounter was particularly significant given the tense atmosphere surrounding previous matches. PSG supporters faced scrutiny following last season’s clash at Parc des Princes, which was marred by instances of homophobic and racist chanting. In response, a strong message flashed on the stadium’s giant screen warned fans to cease such discriminatory language.
Luis Enrique, PSG’s manager, expressed his desire for a peaceful match, stating, “I don’t want any violence, of any kind,” as the game approached.
Despite the French referees having the authority to pause play to address such crowd behaviors, referee Clément Turpin chose not to intervene during troubling moments in the previous season’s match.
During that ill-fated encounter, Adrien Rabiot, a former PSG player, and his mother Véronique faced derogatory comments and a disrespectful banner. Rabiot, at the time a member of the Marseille team, has since transferred to AC Milan. The situation has been compounded by similar accusations against Marseille fans for using homophobic chants at the Vélodrome Stadium.
Other Matches and Highlights
Amid these high-stakes rivalries, the matches on Sunday included veteran Italian striker Ciro Immobile making his league debut for Paris FC against Auxerre, Angers facing Toulouse, and Strasbourg visiting Le Havre. In Saturday’s games, Lens celebrated a solid victory, defeating Rennes 3-1.
