MONACO: England international Eric Dier scored on his competitive debut for AS Monaco, who kicked off their Ligue 1 campaign with a comfortable 3-1 home win over Le Havre on Saturday.

An own goal by Le Havre defender Gautier Lloris put Monaco ahead in the 32nd minute. Former Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich player Dier doubled the hosts’ lead shortly after the hour mark, finding the target off Lamine Camara’s cross.

Le Havre, who finished one point above the relegation playoff spot last season, struck back six minutes later with Rassoul Ndiaye cutting in from the left and finding the net near the far post with a low right-footed shot.

The visitors pushed for an equaliser but paid the price for their high defensive line when Denis Zakaria ran up the empty space into the Le Havre box and crossed to Maghnes Akliouche for a close-range finish.

The 2018 World Cup winner Paul Pogba — who signed a two-year contract with Monaco from Juventus this summer in a bid to relaunch his career back home in France — made an appearance in the locker room at the Louis II Stadium.

Dressed in a vintage Monaco jersey, a cap on his head, and a big smile on his face, Pogba saw his team quickly take the measure of an outclassed Le Havre.

Monaco, who finished third last season, visit Lille on Aug 24 when Le Havre host RC Lens.

Earlier on Saturday, Mikautadze struck at the end of the first half to give seven-time Ligue 1 cham­pions Olympique Lyonnais a 1-0 win over Lens.

It was Lyon’s first win since American businesswoman Michele Kang took over as president in June to save the club from relegation after compatriot John Textor resigned amid financial irregularities.

Lyon got the better against their former coach Pierre Sage, who took over at Lens after Will Still’s departure.

Financially constrained for summer signings, Lyon built its success with what it already had with strikers Malick Fofana and Mikautadze and midfield stalwart Corentin Tolisso combining well.

Fofana ran rings around the Lens defence, breaking through at the end of the first half when he provided an ideal cross to Mikautadze.

Despite 18 shots on goal, Lens were unable to deliver with Wesley Said and Deiver Machado both missing numerous chances.

New recruit Florian Thauvin came off the bench for Lens after 57 minutes to rapturous applause from the home fans but despite bringing creativity and freshness, the World Cup winner could not make the difference.

Elsewhere, four days after being eliminated in the Champions League qualifying round by Benfica, Nice once again displayed shortcomings in a 1-0 defeat at home to Toulouse with Djibril Sidibe scoring one minute before the final whistle.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2025