Ligue 1 round-up: Bordeaux hold on against Saint-Etienne, Paris SG snatch narrow win and Lyon triumph with star hat-trick
The Ligue 1 kicked-off last weekend it's already proving to be more exciting without Zlatan Ibrahimović
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BORDEAUX's new boss Jocelyn Gourvennec is pleased with his men as they held on a late fight against Saint-Etienne to win 3-2 in the opening weekend of the French Ligue 1 season.
New recruit Gaetan Laborde, Uruguayan international Diego Rolan scored for Bordeaux and young Brazilian Malcom, 18, added a third goal from a set piece.
But Saint-Etienne's Romain Hamouma and Alexander Soderlund netted late goals away at the Matmut Atlantique that tested the hosts potential.
Laborde opened the scoring in the 13th minute and Rolan doubled Bordeaux's lead early in the second half. What followed was Malcom's effort to make it 3-0 with a curled free-kick before Les Vert came back to 3-2.
"We managed to score three goals. There were things that were not perfect, but for a first match that is inevitable. It is difficult to control everything," said Gourvennec.
Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain started their campaign for a fifth consecutive title with a narrow win at Bastia (1-0), as left-back Layvin Kurzawa scored a 74-minute decider.
New Recruit Hatem Ben Arfa started as striker with Edinson Cavani ruled out with an hamstring injury, and was replaced with Paris SG's latest addition Jese late on.
Else where in France, the Ligue 1 opening weekend actions also surprised many, with newly promoted Metz coming from behind twice to beat Lille 3-2.
Portugal's Euro 2016 final star Eder started for Lille at the Stade Saint-Symphorien but it was another Portuguese player, Rony Lopes, who scored both goals for the visitors.
However, Mevlut Erding netted twice for the hosts, with his second from the penalty spot, before a Yann Jouffre's effort secured the win late on.
Last season's runners-up Lyon began their campaign with an Alexandre Lacazette's hat-trick at promoted Nancy on Sunday to win 3-0, while Nantes won 1-0 at Dijon with a Nicolaj Thomsen goal.
Caen came from two goals behind to beat 10-man Lorient 3-2 as Croatian summer signing Ivan Santini marked his debut with a brace.
Cameroon forward Benjamin Moukandjo scored twice for Lorient but Zargo Toure later sent off and Ronny Rodelin pulled one back before Santini's two-goal glory.
Monaco drew 2-2 with Guingamp, as they are flying to Villarreal for their Champions League play-off first leg next midweek. For Montpelier, Ryad Boudebouz goal was enough to beat Angers.
Finally, it finished goalless at Marseilles who hosted Toulouse, and Nice started well in their Commemorative unique shirt with a 1-0 victory over Rennes.