Both Lyon and Marseille will be surprised by their respective starts to the Ligue 1 season. Just a few short weeks ago, Lyon were preparing for life in Ligue 2 after an institutional relegation for financial mismanagement. Instead, a reprieve was issued and Lyon instead found themselves at the top of the Ligue 1 standings after the first two games of the season.

Marseille's complicated start

Marseille fans were hoping for a solid start to the year in a campaign where no ground could be given to PSG in the title race. Instead, the opening game of the season was lost in injury time, and Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe ended up in a locker room brawl that even shocked the normally unflappable Marseille coach, Roberto de Zerbi.

Turbulence at Marseille

The Marseille ship has steadied a little after a 5-2 win over Paris FC, a game that saw a first Ligue 1 start for USMNT star, Timothy Weah, who has joined from Juventus. Weah is set to face a USMNT teammate in Sunday’s epic encounter in the form of Lyon midfielder, Tanner Tessmann, who has become a key part of Lyon’s starting lineup.

Sunday August 31st: 2:35PM ET - Lyon vs. Marseille