Definitely, the penalties are talking about this weekend.
Beyond the "penalty-gate" at PSG between Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, many shooters showed up at the 9.15m point at the start of the season.
In total, 12 offenses were sanctioned in the area, a record for 35 years.
42' Second penalty whistled for @PSG_inside! #PSGMHSC I 1-0
– Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 13, 2022
For comparison, only 3 penalties had been whistled at the same time last season, all converted.
This year, 9 of the 12 penalties have been scored, including 5 of the 7 awarded on Matchday 2.
Only Kylian Mbappé against Montpellier and Axel Disasi against Rennes stumbled on the opposing goalkeeper.
On the 1st day, it was Florian Sotoca, yet author of a hat-trick, who had failed.
Video assistant refereeing obviously plays an important role in these refereeing decisions.
It was she who made it possible to see the hand of Jordan Ferri against PSG, or that of Mitchell van Bergen in Reims against Clermont.
Hands that are not always detected with the naked eye, or not always sanctioned.
Such a historic number of goals
As a reminder, according to the official rules governed by the IFAB, the International Football Association Board, a hand is sanctioned if a player "deliberately touches the ball with his arm or hand" or if he "artificially" increases the surface of his body, that is to say of an unnatural movement.
Situations difficult to judge at real speed, and which therefore regularly cause the intervention of the VAR.
But the number of penalties is not the only statistical area in which this start to the 2022-2023 championship excels.
With a total of 62 goals in two days despite a postponed game, or 3.26 goals per game, Ligue 1 reached its best average per game for 50 years.
It is the third richest start to the season in the history of the French football elite.
The opening day had already been the most prolific for 45 years, with 34 goals scored.
