Ryad Boudebouz strikes early to hand Montpellier win over Angers

Montpellier got their Ligue 1 campaign under way with a 1-0 home win against Angers.

Ryad Boudebouz scored the only goal of the game after eight minutes, sending a left-foot shot from just outside the box into the bottom corner of the net after being set up by Casimir Ninga.

Angers threatened either side of the goal and could have led themselves but Karl Toko Ekambi's rising effort cleared the crossbar. Pierrick Capelle then warmed the palms of Montpellier goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren with a 20-yard strike.

It was almost 2-0 after half an hour but Hilton headed Boudebouz's corner over the bar. Nigna was then denied by Angers keeper Denis Petric as he attempted to extend the lead early in the second half.

The closest the visitors came to an equalising goal was midway through the second half when Ekambi's angled shot narrowly missed the far corner of the net.