Auxerre find the goals, and win first league match

French league strugglers Auxerre ended their wait for a first league win of the new campaign by scoring their first goals of the season in a 2-0 home win against Nice on Sunday.

Leaders Bordeaux, on 13 points, lead former seven-times winners Lyon on goal difference after their 1-0 win over Grenoble on Saturday but as Laurent Blanc’s reigning champions stay on top the season so far for Burgundy-based Auxerre has been far less rosy.

After three defeats and a draw Auxerre were finally given a glimpse of light when defender Cedric Hengbart headed home their game, and season, opener from a Benoit Pedretti freekick that had been deflected on its way towards the goalmouth.

Romanian Daniel Niculae was a second half substitute but he grabbed his chance with both hands, despite hints of offside, by then driving home a cross from Hengbart to put Auxerre well in control of the game.

The Burgundy side’s first win of the season moved them up two places from 19th and second last to 17th, but they will be looking for more of the same in the near future.

Rennes produced few sparks of excitement in the first half of their encounter with struggling Saint Etienne, but came out fired up for a second half which they dominated.

Striker Moussa Sow, the club’s top scorer last season, has been a substitute since August but he came good in timely fashion with a neat backpass that left diminutive midfielder Sylvain Marveaux with little chance of missing the net in the 62nd minute.

While Saint Etienne dropped to second-last with only one win from five games Rennes held on for the win to sit sixth in the league on nine points, only one behind Paris Saint Germain who face Monaco in the Principality in Sunday’s late match.