Big-spending Paris St Germain almost fell at the first hurdle as they drew their first Ligue 1 game of the season 2-2 with Lorient in a thrilling match at the Parc de Princes.
Lorient took a shock fourth minute lead through a Maxwell own goal and held on as PSG started to look for an equaliser. But before half-time they were 2-0 up as Jeremie Aliadiere raced through to slot past Nicolas Douchez.
The capital club came out with passion after the break but were almost three down as Alain Traore had a goal disallowed and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, by far the most dangerous player on the pitch, poked PSG back into the game in the 64th minute.
PSG were then handed a lifeline late on as Gregory Bourillon hacked down substitute Blaise Matuidi in the penalty box and Ibrahimovic slotted the penalty home for his second of the game.
Former champions Bordeaux made a winning start with a 3-2 victory at minnows Evian.
Midfielder Ludovic Obraniak opened the scoring on 14 minutes with a powerful left-foot strike which left goalkeeper Bertrand Laquait rooted to the spot as it screamed into the top corner. Striker Yoan Gouffran then doubled the lead, tapping the ball past Laquait from a cross by Ben Khalfallah, who had outflanked the home defenders on the right.
Evian central defender Daniel Wass pulled a goal back from a free-kick just outside the penalty area on 16 minutes but it was no surprise when Bordeux extended their lead, courtesy of a close-range header from Henri Saivet from a cross by Sertic which gave Laquait no chance. Evian though managed a consolation goal in stoppage time when Tunisian international Saber Khelifa volleyed in a cross from Mohamed Rabiu.
Lyon opened their campaign with a 1-0 win after battling past a Rennes side who played more than half of the game with 10 men.
Yoann Gourcuff grabbed the winner for the visitors after 15 minutes and Rennes put themselves at a distinct disadvantage when Jires Kembo-Ekoko was sent off in the 30th minute.
Benoit Pedretti made a dramatic entrance for Lille as he scored a winner in the dying seconds after coming on as an 87th-minute substitute at St Etienne.
Aurelien Chedjou put Les Dogues, who finished third in Ligue 1 last season, on the front foot with a 58th-minute goal but Romain Hamouma levelled in the 74th minute for Les Verts. The match looked set to end in a draw until Pedretti’s crucial intervention.
Ajaccio got their season off to a winning start with 10 men as they claimed a narrow 1-0 victory away to Nice .
Brazilian forward Eduardo got the Corsicans in front in the 10th minute when he turned home a cross from Sigamary Diarra, and the visitors survived almost the entire second half with 10 men following the dismissal of Mehdi Mostefa.
Bastia began their new campaign in style with an impressive 3-2 away victory against Sochaux. After falling behind early on, the Corsican side produced a stunning second-half comeback with three goals, before a late consolation for the home team.
Yohan Mollo scored a late free-kick as Nancy beat Brest 1-0, while it was also 1-0 in the game between Troyes and Valenciennes as Rincon’s 34th minute own goal gave the points to the away side.
