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Sebastien Squillaci headed a goal on his Lyon debut and Fred added a late strike to help the five-time defending champion beat Nantes 3-1 in the French league opener on Friday.


Defender Squillaci, a summer signing from Monaco, rose to nod over the line from close range in the 63rd minute, on a header pass from captain Claudio Cacapa.

It was Squillaci's 12th league goal in 118 matches, and 11th from a header.

Fred, top scorer for Lyon last season with 14 league goals, side-footed in Kim Kallstrom's cross in the 88th.

Beginning its quest for a sixth straight title, coach Gerard Houllier's Lyon team was missing its core of first-team players.

"We beat a very good Nantes team," Houllier told Canal Plus television. "We were more realistic in front of goal in the second half."

France internationals Eric Abidal, Sylvain Wiltord, Sidney Govou, Gregory Coupet, and Florent Malouda, and Brazil midfielder Juninho were all given an extended rest following the World Cup.

"It's always hard to play with nine regulars missing, it changes everything," Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas added. "But Houllier managed things right."

Lyon fell behind to a fourth-minute free-kick from Moroccan midfielder Nourdin Boukhari - making his debut after joining from Ajax - but Karim Benzema leveled within a minute with a volley.

Lyon has a tough start to the season with three of its first four games away from home - including a trip to last season's runner-up Bordeaux in the third round.

Bordeaux, which signed Johan Micoud from Werder Bremen, hosts Toulouse in Saturday's matches - although Micoud misses out because of suspension.

In Saturday's other matches, it is: Rennes vs. Lille; Auxerre vs. Valenciennes; Le Mans vs. Nice; Lens vs. Troyes; Nancy vs. Monaco; Paris Saint-Germain vs. Lorient and Saint-Etienne vs. Sochaux.

On Sunday, Sedan hosts a Marseille team still reeling from winger Franck Ribery's announcement on Friday that he wants to quit the club.

"I wish to leave (Marseille) because I want to win other things," Ribery told French television station TF1. "I want to play in the Champions League. I am only 23 and I want to move onto other things." Гинекология акушерство и гинекология Деловой центр.

Damn, Lyon's looking pretty unstoppable at the moment. If they keep up that form after the winter break not that many are gonna bet against them making a six-peat.

Bordeaux the only one of Lyon's major rivals to win, with PSG downed 2-3 at home by Lorient, Monaco downed 1-0 at Nancy. Let's see what Marseille make of their match at Sedan.

Results Sunday from the French first division (home teams listed first):

Saturday's games

Lorient 0, Bordeaux 1

Lyon 1, Toulouse 1

Monaco 1, Saint-Etienne 2

Nancy 3, Sedan 1

Nice 1, Nantes 1

Sochaux 1, Auxerre 1

Troyes 2, Le Mans 2

Valenciennes 0, Paris Saint-Germain 0

Sunday's games

Lille 4, Lens 0

Marseille 2, Rennes 0


Saturday, Aug. 19

Auxerre vs. Marseille

Lens vs. Lorient

Paris Saint-Germain vs. Lille

Sedan vs. Sochaux

Le Mans vs. Valenciennes

Saint-Etienne vs. Nancy

Rennes vs. Monaco

Nantes vs. Troyes

Sunday, Aug. 20

Toulouse vs. Nice

Bordeaux vs. Lyon Окулист сетчатка глаза лечение зарайск.

Standings Sunday in the French first division:

Team GP W D L GF GA Pts

Lille 2 2 0 0 6 1 6

Nancy 2 2 0 0 4 1 6

Bordeaux 2 2 0 0 3 0 6

Lyon 2 1 1 0 4 2 4

Marseille 2 1 1 0 2 0 4

Le Mans 2 1 1 0 3 2 4

Sochaux 2 1 1 0 3 2 4

Lorient 2 1 0 1 3 3 3

Saint-Etienne 2 1 0 1 3 3 3

Lens 2 1 0 1 1 4 3

Auxerre 2 0 2 0 2 2 2

Valenciennes 2 0 2 0 1 1 2

Paris SG 2 0 1 1 2 3 1

Troyes 2 0 1 1 2 3 1

Nice 2 0 1 1 1 2 1

Nantes 2 0 1 1 2 4 1

Sedan 2 0 1 1 1 3 1

Toulouse 2 0 1 1 1 3 1

Rennes 2 0 0 2 1 4 0

Monaco 2 0 0 2 1 3 0 cheap lcd

Team-Pts-GP-W-D-L

Marseille 7 3 2 1 0
Lyon 7 3 2 1 0
Le Mans 7 3 2 1 0
Lille OSC 6 3 2 0 1
AS Nancy-Lorraine 6 3 2 0 1
Bordeaux 6 3 2 0 1
AS Saint-Etienne 6 3 2 0 1
FC Sochaux 5 3 1 2 0
FC Lorient 4 3 1 1 1
Paris Saint-Germain 4 3 1 1 1
Toulouse FC 4 3 1 1 1
Lens 4 3 1 1 1
Troyes 2 3 0 2 1
Valenciennes FC 2 3 0 2 1
CS Sedan Ardennes 2 3 0 2 1
FC Nantes 2 3 0 2 1
AJ Auxerre 2 3 0 2 1
Monaco 1 3 0 1 2
OGC Nice 1 3 0 1 2
Rennes 1 3 0 1 2

The French press has reported that Bordeaux are set to sign Brazilian international midfielder Daniel Carvalho in January having agreed a deal with the CSKA Moscow striker.

The parties are believed to have agreed a three-and-a-half year deal, although Bordeaux still need reach CSKA valuation of the now international player.