Fabregas starts well in France

Marseille, Jan. 14: Cesc Fabregas got off to a positive start in his debut for struggling Ligue 1 side Monaco after his side gained a hard-fought 11 draw with Marseille at a tumultuous Stade Velodrome on Monday.

Fabregas, who joined the Principality club from Chelsea on Friday, struck a composed figured in the midfield as Thierry Henry’s side recovered from a shaky start to earn a point thanks to Youri Tielemans’ leveller six minutes before the break.

The World Cup winner almost laid on a winner for Tielemans in added time with a trademark clipped pass but the Belgium international hesitated on the ball and ended up shooting a presentable opportunity to snatch a rare victory well wide.

Fabregas’ arrival on the Mediterranean coast on Friday was the third in January after veteran defender Naldo and France

under-21 left-back Fode Ballo-Toure, who both acquitted themselves well on Sunday.

The draw was a good result for a team without a fit striker and not enough available players to even fill the substitutes’ bench.

They remain in the relegation zone despite the positive performance and are four points from safety after winning just twice in 10 league games since Henry’s arrival in October.

However they have been slightly helped in the quest for survival by Paris SaintGermain battering fourth-from-bottom Amiens 3-0 on Saturday and Caen in the 16th place losing 31 at home to Lille. Hosts Marseille began the match amid protests from fans about their own poor form which sees them down in ninth, 22 points behind runaway leaders PSG.

Rudi Garcia’s are winless in games now. side eight