Marseille lose again, Pogba sees Saint-Etienne win

POGB

PARIS: Troubled French giants Marseille slumped to a 2-1 loss at Guingamp in Ligue 1 on Sunday, leaving the nine-time champions still searching for their first win of the new season.

Meanwhile, Manchester United star Paul Pogba was in the crowd in Saint-Etienne to watch his brother Florentin turn out for Les Verts in a 3-1 win over Montpellier.

In Brittany, Yannis Salibur struck after just 32 seconds with Jeremy Sorbon netting Guingamp’s second shortly after half-time as the hosts withstood late Marseille pressure.

Substitute Florian Thauvin pulled a goal back on 78 minutes with a low long-range effort, but Guingamp this time held on having thrown away a two-goal lead in last week’s 2-2 draw at Monaco.

Lassana Diarra again skippered Marseille despite swirling speculation about his future, with Galatasaray the latest side to be linked with a move for the France midfielder before the transfer window closes.

But the visitors were rocked inside the opening minute as Marcus Coco burst into the left-hand side of the area and crossed for Salibur to volley past Yohann Pele.

The Marseille goalkeeper made an excellent stop to prevent Jimmy Briand doubling Guingamp’s lead on the quarter-hour, while Bafetimbi Gomis stabbed wide at the other end after a devilish ball in from Bouna Sarr.

Moustapha Diallo blazed over from Jordan Ikoko’s clever cutback early in the second half, but Sorbon made no mistake when Lucas Deaux picked him out in a similar position on 58 minutes.

Thauvin gave Franck Passi’s side hope when he drove the ball beyond Karl-Johan Johnsson from distance, but the Swedish international ensured there was no way back for Marseille by diverting over from Aaron Leya Iseka in stoppage time.

At the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, the world’s most expensive player Pogba — who started for United in their Premier League win over Southampton on Friday — was there to support his brother Florentin, the Guinea defender who turned 26 on Friday.

The elder Pogba played all 90 minutes as Saint-Etienne came from behind after Steve Mounie put Montpellier ahead midway through the first half.

Kevin Monnet-Paquet equalised seconds after the restart before youngster Dylan Saint-Louis scored his first Ligue 1 goal and Slovenia striker Robert Beric came off the bench to clinch the points late on.

Champions Paris Saint-Germain host promoted Metz in Sunday’s late game, while Alexandre Lacazette made it five goals in two games with a brace in Lyon’s 2-0 victory over Caen on Friday.

Monaco warmed up for the second leg of their Champions League play-off against Villarreal, into which they take a 2-1 aggregate lead, by winning 1-0 at Nantes as Gabriel Boschilia netted the only goal from a first-half free-kick.