Euro Bites: Ligue 1 - Pandemonium as Mathieu Valbuena returns to Marseille with Lyon, Edinson Cavani saves PSG with late equaliser in Reims and Monaco continue to struggle

A round-up of the weekend’s Ligue 1 action as the spotlight - and some outrageous tackles and objects from the crowd - fell firmly on Mathieu Valbuena.

Valbuena’s return to Olympique de Marseille’s Stade Velodrome as an Olympique Lyonnais player proved incendiary, Edinson Cavani’s late equaliser saved a point for Paris Saint-Germain in a 1-1 draw away at Stade de Reims and France overtook Portugal in the UEFA coefficients table in a good week for Ligue 1 clubs in Europe.

VALBUENA’S VELODROME RETURN SPARKS MAYHEM AS MARSEILLE HOLD LYON

Mathieu Valbuena’s return to Marseille’s Stade Velodrome with Lyon was always going to be a fiery affair, but few could have predicted the events that took place last Sunday.

It finished 1-1 on the pitch; a Karim Rekik header cancelled out Alexandre Lacazette’s penalty kick opener. However, Valbuena was the target of a number of tough challenges from his former teammates and Romain Alessandrini was dismissed for one such hard tackle on the stroke of half-time.

Rekik, who went on to score the Marseille equaliser, was lucky to still be playing at that time after he also dished out some harsh treatment to Valbuena. However, what happened on the pitch was tame compared with what went on in the stands.

Valbuena was branded a “traitor” in a banner unfurled by the home supporters pre-match before an effigy of the diminutive playmaker was hung. He was then mercilessly booed and whistled every time he touched the ball.

For each Lyon corner he would go to take, the OM fans would rain objects down in Valbuena’s direction. Such was the deluge, referee Ruddy Buquet had to stop the game during the second half for 20 minutes and the match was under threat of not even finishing at one point.

It did, eventually, with the points being shared after Valbuena missed late chances to silence the Marseille supporters who used to adore him.

REIMS COME CLOSE TO PSG UPSET

PSG remain unbeaten in Ligue 1, but only just. A late equaliser from substitute Edinson Cavani was needed on Saturday to save the French champions from defeat away at Reims.

With just seven minutes to go at Stade Auguste Delaune, Theoson Jordan Siebatcheu gave Olivier Guegan’s men a surprise lead after some poor PSG defending. However, the hosts’ joy was short-lived as El Matador volleyed in a lofted Javier Pastore pass less than 60 seconds after Reims’ opener to spare the blushes of Laurent Blanc’s side.

MONACO’S TOUGH START CONTINUES

AS Monaco’s difficult start to the season continued on Sunday, as Les Monegasques went down 3-2 at home to FC Lorient. The principality outfit had won just two of their opening five Ligue 1 games coming into the clash at Stade Louis II and Les Merlus handed them a second league defeat of the campaign.

Two goals inside of the first 20 minutes from Didier Ndong and Benjamin Jeannot did most of the damage, but it was Benjamin Moukandjo’s strike on the hour that ultimately settled things. Goals from Almamy Toure and the impressive Thomas Lemar had hauled Monaco back into it two minutes into the second half.

Leonardo Jardim’s men are still waiting for a first home win of the season.

LILLE DENY RENNES TOP SPOT

Stade Rennais hosted Lille OSC on Friday with a chance to go top of Ligue 1, temporarily at least, with PSG playing on the Saturday. Philippe Montanier’s players were unable to take their chance though, instead having to settle for a 1-1 draw.

The gifted Sofiane Boufal put Lille ahead after 49 minutes, but just 20 minutes later Vincent Enyeama was sent off for a foul on Giovanni Sio and it gifted Rennes the chance to pull level.

Paul-Georges Ntep stepped forward, but his penalty was saved by Enyeama’s replacement Mike Maignan with his very first touch of a ball in Ligue 1 action. However, less than 60 seconds later, Ntep had made amends for his penalty miss by firing in the equaliser to tie it at 1-1.

Rennes remain second thanks to Reims’ draw with PSG and that result means only a point separates the top two.

POSITIVE WEEK FOR LIGUE 1 CLUBS IN EUROPE

Before last weekend’s Ligue 1 action, it was a good week for all of France’s representatives in continental action.

In the UEFA Champions League, PSG opened their Group A campaign with a 2-0 home win over Malmo FF that featured Angel Di Maria’s first goal for the capital club and Lyon drew 1-1 away at the nine men of KAA Gent in Group H, despite Lacazette’s late penalty miss.

In the UEFA Europa League, a late Jussie strike salvaged Girondins de Bordeaux a 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool in Group B and there were also draws for AS Saint-Etienne at home to Rosenborg BK in Group G and Monaco away at RSC Anderlecht in Group J. Marseille ran riot in a 3-0 win away at FC Groningen in Group F, putting Michel’s men in early control along with Sporting Braga.

A rare unbeaten week in Europe helped France to narrowly overtake Portugal in the latest UEFA club coefficients rankings.

VALBUENA TAKES FORMER CLUB MARSEILLE TO COURT

Valbuena’s return to Stade Velodrome was, as predicted, a spicy affair to say the least. However, last Sunday’s events were arguably made worse by the France international’s decision to take Marseille to court last week.

The 30-year-old claims that OM owe him just over €500,000 relating to a dispute with his former agent, Christophe Hutteau, who is demanding compensation for a breach of contract.

Valbuena was ordered to pay Hutteau €568,000 and believes the fee should have been paid by Marseille. His initial failure to pay to the amount meant his Porsche was seized by bailiffs.