AS Monaco began its Ligue 1 campaign with a shock 2-1 loss at home to Lorient on Sunday night while Vincent Enyeama’s Lille could only manage a draw at home to newly promoted Metz.

Life at Monaco could not have started on a worse note for new manager Leonardo Jardim when Camerounian striker Vincent Aboubakar gave the visitors ahead a 10th minute lead from the penalty spot.

With Prince Albert watching on from the stands, things went from bad to worse for Monaco when veteran defender Ricardo Carvalho got sent off midway through the second half.,

Colombian striker Radamel Falcao however equalised from the penalty spot for the home side with 12 minutes to go, only for Valentin Lavigne to steal the win for Lorient with his goal two minutes from time.

The result meant Monaco failed to take advantage of Paris St. Germain’s underwhelming start to the season, as the defending champions were forced to a 2-2 draw by Reims on Friday.

Elsewhere, Caen ended the opening weekend top of the league courtesy of a 3-0 win over Evian while former champions Olympique Lyon got a 2-0 win at home to Rennes.

Lille were left disappointed in a goalless draw at home to newly promoted Metz, as was new manager Marcelo Bielsa who watched his Olympique Marseille side lose a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 away at Sunday Mba’s Bastia.

In other results, St. Etienne occupies joint second place with local rivals Lyon after coming away from French Cup holders Guingamp with a 2-0 win while Nice lie in fourth place courtesy of a 3-2 win over Toulouse.