PARIS (AP) – Lille leads the French league, undefeated and with the fewest goals conceded, after beating northern rival Lens 4-0 on Sunday to move two questions about protective champion Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG have won five games in a row but are catching up after wasting their first two, and have yet to play twice against Christophe Galtier’s well-trained Lille, who emphasizes teamwork.
Although Lens expelled his right-back Jonathan Gradit in the 57th minute, he was already losing 2-0 to this level following goals from Turkish veteran Burak Yilmaz and offensive midfielder Jonathan Bamba.
French striker Jonathan Ikoné did the 3-0 at 69 and, after Lens’s defence Clement Michelin showed a red card a short time later, Turkish midfielder Yusuf Yazici scored 4-0 thanks to Bamba’s pass.
Coach Patrick Vieira’s Nice returned to fourth place after a convincing 3–1 win at Saint-Etienne, which fell in the middle of the table after a positive start to the season. Midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou, striker Amine Gouiri and replacement Myziane Maolida scored for Nice.
Previously, Memphis Depay showed Barcelona what they lacked by scoring all of Lyon’s in a 3-2 win over stricken Strasbourg.
The Dutch striker was sought after through blue coach and compatriot Ronald Koeman. He nearly signed up for the recent signing window, but the Spanish giant needed to sell a player before buying it and did not. Barcelona were deficient in attack in their 1-0 loss at Getafe on Saturday.
Striker Tino Kadewere scored his first goal for Lyon in 12th place after being placed through Depay, and midfielder Lucas Paqueta was given offside purpose some time later, when Lyon dominated.
The purpose came in the 26th when striker Karl Toko Ekambi scored after a good run and a Depay centre, which then beat two players before reviving Ekambi in the 42nd.
Strasbourg responded a minute later with a new signing, Habib Diallo and Jean-Eudes Aholou repelled some other purpose in a time after the break.
Wissam striker Ben Yedder scored his fourth goal in four games for Monaco, with his penalty in the 70th minute that earned him a 1–1 home draw with Montpellier at 10. Ben Yedder scored an offside minutes later.
Montpellier scored 51st when left-back Djibril Sidibe fell and English striker Stephy Mavididi crossed the middle line before completing with confidence.
In the other matches, Angers 1, Metz 1 and Nantes 3, Brest 1.
PSG 4-0 in Nimes on Friday.
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