| Montpellier held by Toulouse in opener |
PARIS Reigning champions Montpellier got their season off to a frustrating start on Friday as they could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to nine-man Toulouse.
Rene Girard’s hosts lifted their first ever league title in May but then lost their league top scorer Olivier Giroud to Arsenal pre-season and the result was a relative lack of sharpness which saw them pay the price of two dropped points.
Nigerian striker John Utaka sent Souleymane Camara clear for the hosts in the 34th minute and he clipped home - but instead of capitalising Montpellier found themselves pegged back 18 minutes from time when Wissam Ben Yedder headed home from a cross by Serge Aurier.
Toulouse also drew at the Stade de la Mosson - perhaps a positive omen for Montpellier, who still went on to deprive Paris Saint Germain of a first title since 1984.
This time the visitors were left hanging on grimly after they had Adrien Regattin and Serge Aurier sent off.
Montpellier had themselves played for almost an hour a man short after Tunisian star Jamel Saihi was red-carded for a foul on Francois Sirieix six minutes before the break.
“It’s a point - a bit of a shame to finish with ten men,” said a pensive Girard afterwards.
“It was a tight match - but I am satisfied with the lads’ and the spirit they showed, even if we are not yet at 100 percent. It’s a rather timid return (to league action).”
Toulouse counterpart Alain Casanova said: “At ten against ten it was possible” to poach a win. “At ten against nine it was more complicated. So in the end we can say it’s a good point.”
Montpellier also lost their Champions Trophy opener, albeit on penalties, to Lyon - and Girard will doubtless be privately concerned after their failure to get their season off to a flier given that big-spenders PSG will fully expect to see off a Lorient which only just stayed up, in their opener on Saturday.
Even so, Montpellier may take comfort from the fact that Lorient have regularly upset PSG - including in Paris - in recent years.
Agence France-Presse
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