Sunday 15th April: Paris Saint-Germain 7-1 Monaco It has effectively been confirmed for many weeks, but Paris Saint-Germain have now officially been crowned champions of Ligue 1 this weekend, following a 7-1 destruction of last season’s victors, Monaco. Amid a carnival-like atmosphere in the Parc des Princes, PSG went to work diligently as they tore […]
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain: A Thomas Tuchel Revolution?
It appears that Paris Saint-Germain’s owners, Qatari Sports Investments, have narrowed down their list of candidates for the club’s new manager to two names. With the departure of Unai Emery nailed on for the summer, the club have cast their glance elsewhere in the search for a new tactician capable of advancing the club’s fortunes […]
Ligue 1 Round-Up: Twists and turns as Paris Saint-Germain are held at St Etienne
Friday 6th April: St Etienne 1-1 Paris Saint-Germain It is becoming something of novelty when Paris Saint-Germain fail to win a Ligue 1 game. The occasion is something to be savoured by those who believe that the club are the very antithesis of what the beautiful game should be about, something to be placed on […]
Paris Saint-Germain’s Coupe de la Ligue triumph shows a worrying lack of competition in France
It came as no surprise when Paris Saint-Germain lifted the Coupe de la Ligue this year, brushing aside Monaco in the final for the second consecutive season. Unai Emery may be a manager whose time is rapidly diminishing in the City of Lights, but he will still have guided the Parisians to a Ligue 1 […]
Ligue 1 Round-Up: Unrest at Lille continues as relegation looms
Sunday 1st April: Lille 0-1 Amiens Trouble at Lille has threatened to escalate to boiling point over the course of the season, and this weekend’s home defeat to fellow strugglers Amiens only helped to force home the issue that caused sections of the Lille faithful to so openly riot against their club’s leadership. The unsavoury […]
Enough is Enough: Lille OSC fans vent their frustration
The images from the pitch invasion and threatening chants at the end of the Lille OSC and Montpellier HSC game last weekend have shocked many but not come as a great surprise to most. In an increasingly pressurised sport, where results and instant success are demanded by everyone, it is common to see fans become […]
Legends of Ligue 1: Pauleta
Ligue 1 has been blessed with some of football’s most clinical frontmen throughout its illustrious history. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Sonny Anderson have graced television screens in France with breathtaking moments of brilliance, weaving their way through defences and humiliating goalkeepers in plain view of their watching wives and children. But perhaps the greatest […]
The search for Paris Saint-Germain’s new manager
After strong rumours this week of Paris Saint-Germain contacting Antonio Conte’s representatives with a view to the Italian taking charge at the end of the season, it appears Unai Emery’s time in The City of Lights has come to an end. The ex-Sevilla manager moved to the Parc des Princes after lifting three consecutive Europa […]
Ligue 1 Talking Points: Can Ligue 1 be considered an elite league?
This season in France’s top flight, whilst not throwing up many surprises when it comes to the title race or battle for Europe, has certainly provided the watching millions with plenty of highlights. The high-profile signing of Neymar has helped to re-establish Ligue 1 as one of Europe’s top leagues, with the Brazilian dancing across […]
Ligue 1 Round-Up: Memphis Depay reignites Lyon’s European hopes
Memphis Depay grabbed a late winner as Lyon triumphed against Marseille 3-2 in the battle for a European place. Elsewhere in France, the relegation battle continued for another week with Troyes, Lille and Metz all dropping points once again. For all the action in Ligue 1 this weekend, read below: Friday: Monaco 2-1 Lille Monaco […]
Ligue 1 Talking Points: how do PSG compete with Europe’s elite?
Champions League success has slipped by prematurely from Paris Saint-Germain, with yet another early exit. Losing to reigning European champions Real Madrid is no embarrassment, but the few moments the French side managed to compete with Zinedine Zidane’s free-flowing outfit were far outweighed by moments of brilliance from those in white. A narrow defeat at […]
Ligue 1 Round-Up: PSG shrug off Champions League exit after easing past Metz
Paris Saint-Germain returned to their emphatic domestic form after brushing Metz aside 5-0, days after another premature exit from the Champions League. Elsewhere in France, Monaco tightened their grip on second place and Lyon finally returned to winning ways with a narrow win over Caen. For all the action from Ligue 1 this weekend, read […]
Ligue 1 Talking Points: PSG ease past Troyes and move closer to Ligue 1 title
Paris Saint-Germain strengthened their grip on the Ligue 1 title after a routine victory at Troyes, despite Edinson Cavani, Kylian Mbappe and Marco Verratti all rested by Unai Emery. Troyes, who sit in 18th place amid a battle to secure their safety in France’s top flight, put in a good account of themselves but were […]
Ligue 1 Round-Up: Relegation scrap continues while Weah makes PSG debut
The fight to avoid the drop in Ligue 1 continued this weekend with both Lille and Troyes hitting a rough patch of form at the worst possible time. Elsewhere in France, Timothy Weah, son of ex-PSG and AC Milan striker George Weah, made his debut for the runaway leaders in the 2-0 away victory at […]
Ligue 1 Talking Points: Neymar set to miss Real Madrid clash after PSG ease past Marseille
Brazilian superstar Neymar is set to miss out on Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League Round of 16 2nd leg, after the club confirmed he had suffered a fractured metatarsal. PSG will host Real Madrid on 6 March, and need to overturn a 3-1 deficit to progress in the competition. But the odds are firmly against the […]
Ligue 1 Round-Up: Paris Saint-Germain derby win marred by Neymar injury
Paris Saint-Germain triumphed over Marseille in Le Classique, but the victory is marred by Neymar’s late injury. Elsewhere in France, Monaco let a two goal slip at Toulouse in the race for Champions League qualification, and Angers came out on top against Lille in a battle between two sides firmly rooted to the bottom of […]
Ligue 1 Talking Points: Genesio under fire after Lille fightback
Bruno Genesio’s job security may soon in question, after his Lyon side let a two goal lead slip at Lille and were forced to share the spoils with the relegation strugglers. The manager’s decision to leave club captain Nabil Fekir on the bench raised some eyebrows, and his team’s defensive problems surfaced again after a […]
Ligue 1 Round-Up: Lyon’s form falters again and PSG rout Strasbourg
Lyon are rapidly falling away from automatic Champions League contention, after being held to a 2-2 stalemate with struggling Lille. Both Monaco and Marseille picked up victories this weekend, to put more pressure on Bruno Genesio heading into the back end of the season. Elsewhere in Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain comfortably ripped apart Strasbourg at […]
Balotelli’s abuse and Lyon’s faltering form
The action in Ligue 1 this weekend was marred somewhat by reports of Mario Balotelli being racially abused by some of the Dijon home support, as Nice lost 3-2. The former Manchester City and Liverpool striker received a yellow card from referee Nicolas Rainville after complaining about the abuse. The caution has drawn criticism from […]
Ligue 1 Round-Up: Marseille held by St Etienne while Lyon fall to shock home defeat
Lyon fell to a surprise 2-0 home defeat against Rennes, as Monaco gained the advantage in the race for an automatic Champions League place. Elsewhere in France, PSG ground out a tight victory at relegation-threatened Toulouse to move one step close to the league title, while Bordeaux’s impressive form under new manager Gus Poyet continued […]