Euro Bites: Ligue 1 - Trapp blunder, Gourcuff for Rennes and Marseille prolific again

Paris Saint-Germain’s Kevin Trapp gifted Girondins de Bordeaux a draw with an epic gaffe, Philippe Montanier’s Stade Rennais beat 10-man FC Nantes to go second and await the arrival of Yoann Gourcuff, while Michel’s Olympique de Marseille won big at home again

KEVIN TRAPP HOWLER ENDS PSG’S 100% WIN RECORD

PSG’s winning start to the Ligue 1 season was ended by Bordeaux. Despite missing a host of regulars in their starting XI, Willy Sagnol’s men managed to come away from Parc des Princes with a 2-2 draw.

Although les Girondins were impressive and deserving of at least a point against the French champions, they ultimately had PSG goalkeeper Kevin Trapp to thank for their share of the spoils. The German’s first half own goal and second half howler completed a calamitous evening for the summer signing.

LYON MISS CHANCE TO CLOSE GAP ON PSG

Olympique Lyonnais failed to capitalise on their opportunity to make up some ground on PSG as Hubert Fournier’s men could only manage a goalless draw at home to Lille OSC. The result means that les Parisiens maintain their five-point lead over OL and expected title rivals AS Monaco.

Alexandre Lacazette’s disappointing form continued and Nabil Fekir was sorely missed as les Gones get used to life without the France international for some time. The seven-time Ligue 1 champions confirmed that the 22-year-old will undergo a knee operation on Monday that will likely rule him out for the majority of the remaining season.

RENNES THE SURPRISE NAME KEEPING PACE AT SUMMIT

While Lyon continue to stumble early on, there is one unexpected name keeping up with PSG at the Ligue 1 summit. Rennes beat Breton rivals Nantes 2-0 last Sunday to move to within a point of the capital club.

Les Canaris finished the match with nine men after both Adryan Oliveira Tavares and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson were shown straight red cards in the second half. Goals from the recovering Paul-Georges Ntep and Giovanni Sio ensured that Philippe Montanier’s men now have 12 points from a possible 15.

The Frenchman, who famously led Real Sociedad into the UEFA Champions League back in 2012-13, has struggled to replicate that success with Les Rouges et Noirs so far. However, the Breton side look like they might finally have turned a corner and Montanier’s puzzle pieces could finally be falling into place at Roazhon Park.

YOANN GOURCUFF FINALLY SET FOR RENNES RETURN

Having spent the summer as a free agent, France international Yoann Gourcuff is set to join a new club in the coming days. The mercurial playmaker is poised to return to formative side Rennes after the Brittany outfit’s coach Montanier revealed that everything is ready for the move to be completed.

Still only 29 years old, Gourcuff’s five years with Lyon were plagued by injury and the former Bordeaux man must now rebuild his career in familiar surroundings. Gourcuff burst onto the scene with Rennes before joining Italian giants AC Milan in 2006.

If he can stay fit, the Frenchman could prove to be one of the signings of the summer.

MICHEL’S MARSEILLE GO GOAL CRAZY AT HOME AGAIN

After three matches in charge of Marseille, Michel’s statistics are impressive - and a little bizarre.

OM have won both their home games and lost the only away fixture. In the two home victories, they found the net a combined total of 10 times and in the away defeat, they did not even manage one goal.

Benjamin Mendy set the hosts on their way to a 4-1 win over SC Bastia at Stade Velodrome last Sunday with a superb first half strike from distance. A Romain Alessandrini double in the second half and a Michy Batshuayi finish completed the scoring for Marseille, before ex-OM striker Brandao headed in a consolation goal for the Corsicans.

GAZELEC STILL GOALLESS AFTER MONTPELLIER FINALLY END DROUGHT

Only one Ligue 1 team remain goalless now after Montpellier HSC broke their barren run in a 1-2 home defeat to AS Saint-Etienne last Saturday. Le Championnat debutants Gazelec Ajaccio are the only side yet to find the back of the net after five rounds of games, yet they are still tied with Montpellier on one point.

Joris Marveaux’s late strike against Saint-Etienne was nothing more than a consolation for La Paillade, while the Corsicans went down 1-0 at home to Monaco. Thierry Laurey’s men took 26 shots against Les Monegasques, yet only four were on target, illustrating the size of the task facing the minnows.

Only two other teams in history, FC Antibes in 1938-39 and FC Metz in 1998-99, have been without a goal after five games in Ligue 1.