Marseille kick off new Ligue 1 season by thrashing Strasbourg at home

Cover image: Marseille's Algerian forward #09 Amine Gouiri (L) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal from the penalty spot during the French L1 football match between Olympique de Marseille (OM) and RC Strasbourg Alsace at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, south-eastern France on August 21, 2026. © Pascal Pochard-Casabianca, AFP

Algerian international striker Amine Gouiri scored a second-half double for Marseille, who powered to a 4-0 victory over Strasbourg in the curtain-raiser for the new Ligue 1 season on Friday evening.

Arsenal kicked off their Premier League title defence in similarly resounding fashion, seeing off promoted side Coventry City 3-0 at home with goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Ødegaard.

Jannik Sinner has announced his withdrawal from the upcoming US Open, with the world number one yet to recover from a knee injury. His rival Carlos Alcaraz, meanwhile, is set to return from a four-month absence to defend his title in New York.

Alex Lanier is making history for French badminton, having become the country's first representative to reach the World Championship semi-finals. Ahead of his semi-final against Canada's Victor Lai on Saturday, the Normandy native is already guaranteed at least a bronze medal in New Delhi.