Marseille Aug 21 (BNA): Alexis Sanchez made his French Ligue 1 debut as 10-man Marseille beat Nantes 2-1 on Saturday to remain unbeaten.
Marseille scored the winning goal in the 82nd minute with an own goal from Nicolas Balois, who converted a header from Luis Suarez into his net, the Associated Press reported.
Marseille, runners-up last season, has seven points from three league matches, while Nantes are still unbeaten with two points.
“Sure, it wasn’t a boring game. Marseille coach Igor Theodor told Canal Plus TV, describing the result as a ‘character’s victory’.
Marseille defender Chancel Mbemba took advantage of a scramble in the goal to put the hosts ahead in the 70th minute. But Ludovic Blas, the Nantes playmaker, equalized with a penalty kick in the 78th minute after Samuel Gigot got a second yellow card to lock substitute Mustafa Mohamed inside the area.
Sanchez played the Nine Liars, earning a nod on the ineffectual Arcadius Milik. The Chilean striker created two chances for Jordan Veritot in the fifth minute and Matteo Guendouzi in the 40th minute. Sanchez also had two chances to score, but he shot wide in the 37th minute and Andre Girotto rushed to block his attempt from a corner kick in the 13th minute.
However, Sanchez was often isolated up front as he was the only striker in the starting lineup. He played behind Suarez in the second half after the Colombian striker replaced the injured Gerson in the 53rd minute. The crowd applauded Sanchez when he left the field in the 65th minute.
Expectations for Sanchez are high. Marseille supporters are hoping to see the star player for Barcelona and Arsenal, not the injured player who has struggled to be a starting player with Manchester United and Inter Milan.
Nantes striker Moussa Simon failed to convert two big chances, blasting over the bar with a goal at his mercy in the 52nd minute before goalkeeper Pau Lopez parried his low shot in the 61st minute.
In a confrontation between two expected contenders for European spots, Monaco lost for the first time in the league this season as Lens took a 4-1 victory.
Lens remain undefeated with seven points from three league games while Monaco are still suffering from an uneven start with four points. Monaco also lost to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League qualifiers earlier this month.
Luis Obenda, Diver Machado, Seko Fofana and Wesley Said Lens scored, while Monaco central defender Benoit Badiachel scored a condolence goal.
“They wanted it more than us, they played with more commitment than us,” Monaco defender Axel Desassi told Amazon Prime Video. “Today was an alarm bell. We have to give 100% every weekend.”
Monaco fell to ten men in the 72nd minute after Brazilian right-back Van Anderson received a second yellow card after facing Machado late.
In the second division, three Saint-Etienne players were sent off in a 6-0 loss to Le Havre and remained in last place.