Lebo Mothiba was Strasbourg's match winner as the South Africa international forward claimed the decisive second goal in his side's 2-1 win over Lyon on Sunday to give Patrick Vieira a winning return to Ligue 1 Uber Eats as a coach.
THE MATCH
Vieira received a warm accolade from his opposite number, Laurent Blanc, before kick-off - the pair had starred as players in the France team that won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2000. It was only the fourth time teammates from that era had faced each other in the French top flight, and on each previous occasion, the encounter had ended in a draw. Vieira would buck that trend in his first French top-flight game since leaving Nice in December 2020.
Brought in to oversee the development of a squad that under-performed last season, the former Arsenal, Manchester City, Juventus and Inter Milan midfielder had used the funds of Strasbourg's new American owners to remodel his squad with seven new faces this summer.
Lyon were missing two key ones in goalkeeper Anthony Lopes and experienced central defender Dejan Lovren, and took some time to get going despite the presence of another Croatian, new signing and former Marseille man Duje Caleta-Car, in their back line.
One of Vieira's new men, Emanuel Emegha, should have done better when he raced past Caleta-Car only to run into Sinaly Diomandé - a pass to the unmarked Mothiba would surely have seen a better outcome (24').
Though Lyon limped home seventh last season, Alexandre Lacazette showed in his first season back in France that he has not lost any of his goalscoring threat. The former Arsenal forward, who netted 27 league goals last season to come second only to Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappé in the scoring chart, very nearly got off the mark for 2023/24, but found a post with a left-foot shot shortly before the break (41').
The breakthrough came shortly after the hour mark as Jean-Ricner Bellegarde lit up the Meinau. The midfielder's free-kick might have found the head of Emegha, but he miscued his header - the Dutch forward's intention was enough to wrongfoot goalkeeper Rémy Riou, however, and the ball found its way into the net (63').
The ex-Lens man was the creator of his team's second when he burst forward and found Mothiba inside the penalty area, and the ex-Lille man finished with style as Lyon appealed in vain for the offside flag (75').
Matz Sels turned aside a Corentin Tolisso shot (86') before Nicolas Tagliafico pulled one back for Lyon (88') but Blanc looks set for another tough season in charge of the seven-time French champions.
THE PLAYER: Jean-Ricner Bellegarde
The Strasbourg midfielder had a hand in both goals, and was his usual industrious self in the centre of the park. Vieira - a former midfielder himself - would surely have been impressed.
THE STAT: 19
Lyon had been unbeaten in their previous 19 season-openers, winning 15 of them
>> MATCH REPORT: Rennes run riot, Monaco win opener
