Lisandro saves Lyon from defeat

Club-record signing Lisandro López scored an added-time equaliser on debut to salvage Olympique Lyonnais a 2-2 draw at Le Mans UC 72 on the opening day of the French season.

Marseille victorious
Les Gones, who lost the title they had won for the past seven years to FC Girondins de Bordeaux last term, went behind after 21 minutes when Modibo Maíga was on target. Although Mathieu Bodmer (28) swiftly levelled, the hosts looked to be on their way to all three points courtesy of Mathieu Coutadeur's 59th-minute penalty until López, a €24m arrival from FC Porto, struck. Olympique de Marseille finished one place above Lyon in second last season and they kicked off their bid for a first league championship since 1991/92 with a 2-0 away win against Grenoble Foot 38 thanks to Mamadou Niang (2) and Benoît Cheyrou (81).

PSG denied
Emir Spahić (93) denied Antoine Kombouaré a victory in his first game in charge of Paris Saint-Germain FC, the capital club drawing 1-1 at newcomers Montpellier Hérault SC, while FC Sochaux-Montbéliard won 1-0 at AJ Auxerre. AS Nancy-Lorraine recorded a 3-1 away win over Valenciennes FC, while Stade Rennais FC were the biggest winners of the opening day in defeating another of the newly promoted sides, US Boulogne, 3-0 at home.

Champions meet
Elsewhere, Nenê (45) earned AS Monaco FC a 1-0 success against UEFA Europa League contenders Toulouse FC at the Stade Loius II and OGC Nice won 2-0 at AS Saint-Etienne. On Sunday, champions Bordeaux open their campaign at home to Ligue 2 winners RC Lens and LOSC Lille Métropole host FC Lorient.