Marseilles kick off in convincing fashion

Marseilles and Lens, two of France's big disappointments last season, began the new league campaign in impressive style under new coaches.

Marseilles and Lens, two of France's big disappointments last season, began the new league campaign in impressive style under new coaches.

Marseilles, who narrowly avoided relegation last term, kicked off with a 3-1 home win over Troyes on Friday night that delighted their new Brazilian coach, Abel Braga.

Lens, the 1998 French champions who have missed out on a place in Europe this year, showed some new-found determination under the former Marseilles coach, Rolland Courbis, as they won 2-0 away to the French Cup holders, Nantes, on Saturday.

Lens played the second half with 10 men after Antoine Sibierski was sent off on his debut against his former club, but Jose Pierre-Fanfan and El-Hadji Diouf grabbed two late goals. It was the first red card of Sibierksi's career.

"To do well in this championship you have to have a squad that can overcome adversity - and we were very solid as a team after going a man down," Courbis said.

Paris St-Germain managed well without their record signing, Nicolas Anelka, who is not yet match-fit, as they eased to a 3-1 home win over Strasbourg despite conceding a soft early goal. PSG's Nigerian midfielder Jay Jay Okocha, however, suffered a foot injury and is likely to be out of action for three weeks.

Bastia, without a single away victory last season, won 1-0 at promoted Toulouse thanks to a Frederic Nee goal in the second half. Sedan won 1-0 at Auxerre, where Daniel Rolland has this year taken over from their long-serving former coach, Guy Roux.

The reigning champions, Monaco, were held 1-1 at Lille, while Lyon got a goal each from their expensive strike force of Tony Vairelles and Sonny Anderson as they recovered to draw 2-2 at home to Rennes.