Auxerre 0-1 Sochaux
Grenoble 0-2 Marseille
Le Mans 2-2 Lyon
Monaco 1-0 Toulouse
Montpellier 1-1 PSG
Rennes 3-0 Boulogne
St Etienne 0-2 Nice
Valenciennes 1-3 Nancy
Bordeaux 4-1 Lens
Lille 1-2 Lorient
Wantaway striker Marouane Chamakh played and scored in Bordeaux's opening game of their title defence. Still unsubtly trying to engineer a move to Arsenal, the Moroccan scoring the third of Bordeaux's four goals on the night. Wendel had opened the scoring with a stunning effort 11 minutes into the game. Some nice approach work freed the Brazilian and he showed great strength in holding off the Lens defenders before a quick turn and a curling effort over the keeper and into the far corner. Inevitably, Yoann Gourcuff was involved in pretty much everything and bagged two goals for himself as well as setting up Chamakh. He's a Bordeaux player now, the club having exercised their option on the midfielder and he looks well capable of guiding the club to another championship. Lens won't have too many harder evenings in their return to Ligue 1, though Issam Jemaa's diving header was perhaps a sign of what they can do when they're not up against such a good side.
Marseille started well too, with goals coming early and late in the piece to see off Grenoble. Mamadou Niang got their first with just two minutes on the clock and Benoit Cheyrou made the game safe ten minutes from time. Lyon have lost their aura and an opening day draw at Le Mans was not in the plan as they seek to regain the title they've just been relieved of for the first time this century. Modibo Maiga put Le Mans ahead on 21 minutes, but Mathieu Bodmer equalised shortly after. A penalty on the hour from Mathieu Coutadeur put the home side back in front and it looked like being enough until Lisandro Lopez's deflected free-kick in the last minute spoiled the party. PSG were also held to a draw, by ten-man Montpellier for whom Cyril Jeunechamp was dismissed in the first half for two bookings. Ludovic Giuly put the Parisians ahead in the second period, but Montpellier snatched a point deep into stoppage time with Emir Sphaic heading in from a tight angle.
Ligue 2 champions Boulogne were soundly beaten at Rennes with Ismael Bangoura netting early on and it was all just about done there and then. Further goals followed from Kader Mangane and Jerome Leroy in an emphatic win. St Etienne look set for another difficult season after a loss at home to Nice. Mahame Traore and Loic Remy got the south-coast club's goals as they eased past Les Verts. Two of last year's strugglers got off to fliers. Nancy were big winners at Valenciennes who took an early lead through Mamadou Samassa. Nancy roared back and equalised through Floyd Ayite and second half goals from Bakaye Traore and Jonathan Brison took the points. Sochaux scored a more than handy win in Auxerre and, inevitably, it was Vaclav Sverkos with the goal. They'll need to keep several suitors away from him if they're to prosper.
Monaco lost Diego Perez to a second yellow in the second half of their game against Toulouse, but they were already leading through Nene and hung on despite their numerical disadvantage to secure the win. Lorient were two up on Lille inside an hour through Kevin Gameiro and Marama Vahirua. Olivier Monterrubio's free-kick had set up Gameiro, but he blotted his copybook somewhat by heading past his own keeper at the near post.
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