Gouiri double fires Marseille past Strasbourg in Ligue 1 opener

Algeria forward Amine Gouiri netted twice within 20 minutes to help Marseille secure a convincing 4-0 victory over Strasbourg in the opening game of the French Ligue 1 season. The Algerian striker scored a goal just a minute into the second half before adding a second from the penalty spot after Strasbourg's Samir El Mourabet was sent off for violent conduct.

Replacements Keyliane Abdallah and midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg completed the rout for Bruno Genesio's side, extending their unbeaten run against Strasbourg back to 1997. Gouiri, who joined Marseille from Rennes in January 2025, expressed his joy at starting the season well in front of his supporters. Genesio, who has yet to make significant summer signings, acknowledged the need to manage costs due to the remaining transfer window.

Gouiri, who joined from Rennes in January 2025, scored the opening goal with a low first-time finish shortly after the break, following his previous World Cup goal for Les Fennecs. Following El Mourabet's dismissal, Gouiri doubled Marseille's lead with a penalty, followed by goals from 20-year-old Abdallah and Hojbjerg. In other Ligue 1 matches, Lens will host Auxerre and Le Mans, the latter backed by a consortium including Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and tennis star Novak Djokovic, while Troyes, champions of Ligue 2, face Paris FC in Liam Rosenior's first league game in charge.

At the other end of the weekend's matches, French champions Paris Saint-Germain aim to add to their record-breaking 14th French top-flight title at Rennes.