Ligue 1 2018-19: 5 talking points from Match Day 5

1. Paris Saint Germain maintain their perfect start in Ligue 1:

PSG have started their Ligue 1 campaign on a perfect note this season and the match against AS Saint-Etienne was not different. Thomas Tuchel did not have the services of Kylian Mbappe available as he was out with a red card and he chose not to include Neymar in the squad as well in lieu of the Champions League match against Liverpool.

PSG defeated Saint Etienne convincingly

Julian Draxler opened the scoring for PSG assisted by Marco Verratti and PSG held on to a 1-0 lead at halftime. Over the second half, 3 goals from Edinson Cavani, Angel Di Maria, and Moussa Diaby assured PSG of yet another solid victory.

Though PSG has not yet faced tough competition in Ligue 1, Liverpool would be a different ball game altogether when they face off midweek at Anfield.

2. Lyon draws against 10 men at Caen:

Lyon was up against Caen on Matchday 5 of the French Ligue 1 and was expected to dominate proceedings from the start. Nabil Fekir anchored the midfield and also scored from a free kick at the stroke of half-time to give Lyon the lead.

Caen vs Lyon

But Caen fought back and leveled in the 53rd minute with a goal from Claudio Beavue. Two minutes later Alexander Djiku was sent off for kicking Fekir on the head. The 10 men Caen surprisingly got the better of Lyon in the 73rd minute from an Oniangue goal to go 2-1 up. Memphis Depay came on as a substitute in the 71st minute and assisted Ferland Mendy's goal in the 88th minute to salvage a point for Lyon.

Up next for Lyon is a Champions League clash away at the Etihad against Manchester City.

3. Monaco held to a draw against Toulouse:

Monaco has not had a great start to the season so far winning just one, drawing one and losing 2 consecutive matches against Bordeaux and Marseille. Monaco is nowhere near the strength of the side that they once were. A number of key players have all been sold off to big clubs in England and Spain.

Toulouse vs Monaco

Last season's arrival Youri Tielemans got Monaco ahead in the 56th minute with an assist from Bennasser, but Toulouse drew level in the 79th minute with a goal from Aaron Leya Iseka.

Monaco does not have enough squad depth required this season to compete in the domestic league and Europe and therefore coach Leonardo Jardim have more to worry about when Atletico Madrid visit them this week in the Champions League.

4. Marseille wins big against Guingamp:

The Europa League runner-ups last season have had a somewhat decent start so far in their Ligue 1 campaign this season where barring a loss against Nimes and a draw against Rennes, they have scored victories against Toulouse and Monaco.

Florian Thauvin scored a brace

The first half was equally contested between the two sides and ended goal-less. But the second half was an entirely different story. Florian Thauvin struck twice in the 57th and 80th minute while Payet and Mitroglou struck one each to hand Marseille a four-goal advantage which proved too much for Guingamp.

Marseille would be facing German opponents Eintracht Frankfurt when they start their Europa League campaign at home this week.

5. Patrick Vieira's Nice defeat Rennes at home:

The newly appointed coach of Nice, Patrick Vieira, has had a mixed start to his managerial career in France. After a slow start where they won just one out of three games, a win against mighty Lyon was enough to restore confidence. But this week, Vieira's men have improved on it and defeated Rennes.

Vieira would hope Nice continue their winning form

Rennes went ahead with a Sarr own goal in the 58th minute and though dominating proceedings so far, Nice looked like going down for the third time this season. But a goal from Allan Saint-Maim in the 77th minute leveled things and an 89th-minute strike from Pierre Lees-Melou proved to be the winning goal.

Patrick Vieira would be hoping that his side continue to replicate this week's performance and develop a momentum for the season