Le Mans mark Ligue 1 return with Brest thriller as Nice and Troyes held
Emotional return to Ligue 1 for Le Mans
Sixteen years after their last appearance in Ligue 1, Le Mans returned to the top flight with a four-goal encounter against Brest at the Stade Marie-Marvingt.
The evening began with an emotional tribute to former Brest coach Éric Roy, who died this summer at the age of 58 following pancreatic cancer. Le Mans coach Patrick Videira presented Julien Lachuer, Roy's former assistant and now Brest head coach, with a shirt signed by the Manceaux players and staff and carrying the inscription "KING ERIC 29".
Once the game began, Brest took the lead after 31 minutes. Kamory Doumbia released Romain Del Castillo on the right and the former Rennes attacker found the net with his left foot.
Le Mans responded just before the break. Brest failed to clear inside their area and Dame Gueye took advantage, firing home in the second minute of added time to ensure the hosts went into half-time level.
The promoted side then turned the match around ten minutes after the restart. Louis Mafouta raced onto Bourabaa's pass, drove into the penalty area and finished with his left foot to put Le Mans 2-1 ahead.
Their lead lasted only seven minutes. A Brest corner eventually fell to Doumbia after Kocik had saved a header, allowing the Mali international to finish from close range and earn the visitors a 2-2 draw.
No breakthrough in Nice or Troyes
There were no goals at the Allianz Riviera, where Nice and Lorient shared the points in a match played behind closed doors.
The evening nevertheless began with another tribute to Roy in his home city, with a minute's silence observed before kick-off. On the pitch, Nice produced some early openings, including a chance for Sofiane Diop which was kept out by Yvon Mvogo, but neither side could find the decisive touch.
The same was true at the Stade de l'Aube, where promoted Troyes and Paris FC opened their campaigns with a 0-0 draw.
Paris came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half when Ilan Kebbal's long-range effort struck the post before Lassine Sinayoko sent the follow-up wide. Troyes nevertheless held firm to secure their first point back in Ligue 1.
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