Pandemic, closed door, crisis of TV rights, food shortage… All the ingredients are there to push Ligue 1 to the bottom. But paradoxically, the championship is perhaps simmering the most breathtaking season for us in ages. At the truce in fact and after 17 days, we see that the fight is raging at the top of the table, as at the bottom of the classification and that the traditional “soft” belly has grown considerably thanks to confinements.
THE TOP. RC Lens
Well done to the promoted! Behind the podium Lyon, Lille and PSG; Europeans Rennes and Marseille, RC Lens (7th) rose to Monaco (with a late match against OM at the Vélodrome on January 20). In Pas-de-Calais, there is no lack of reasons for satisfaction, despite a Bollaert stadium still deprived of L1 and a workforce entirely decimated by the Covid-19 at the end of October: Franck Haise, “beginner” coach, leader Kakuta, forwards Ganago and Kalimuendo, etc. On their hunting board, the Sang et Or have already hooked PSG, Rennes and Monaco …
THE FLOP. Nantes
16th with 15 points, and only 3 lengths ahead of the first relegation, the 2001 French champion achieved his worst run in Ligue 1 since the 2006-2007 season, the year in which the eight-time French champion left the league. elite, for the first time in its history. The Canaries have just chained 8 games without a win before the truce (four draws, four defeats). After Christian Gourcuff and Patrick Collot, will Raymond Domenech be able to find the words?
LA REVELATION. Tino Kadewere
Just four years after leaving Zimbabwe, the 24-year-old Lyon striker has already successfully adapted to Ligue 1, as evidenced by the 7 goals scored so far. Arrived from Le Havre (L2) with breathtaking statistics – 20 goals and 4 assists in 24 games – Kadewere is already an essential offensive cog for the leading OL and again in search of the podium.
LE POLYTALENT. Andy Delort
The 29-year-old from Montpellier ended the year in style on a powerful bicycle against Lille (2-3 Wednesday), perhaps scoring the spectacular goal of the first part of the season. However, the Franco-Algerian is not the man with a bang but a key offensive piece of the MHSC. With 8 goals and 6 assists, he is involved in almost half of Hérault’s goals (29).
THE NUMBER. 6
With the dismissal of Thomas Tuchel, replaced by Mauricio Pochettino this Thursday, December 24, six Ligue 1 coaches have already left their bench. Robert Moreno (Monaco) opened the ball on July 18, even before the start of the championship, replaced by Niko Kovac. Stéphane Jobard (Dijon) was fired on November 5, replaced by David Linarès. Patrick Vieira (Nice) was dismissed on December 4, in favor of Adrian Ursea. Christian Gourcuff was disembarked on December 8 and replaced by Raymond Domenech on Thursday, after an interim provided by Patrick Collot. In Metz, finally Vincent Hognon was replaced by Frédéric Antonetti, who resumed his post on October 12, two years after leaving him to go to the bedside of his wife, seriously ill and deceased in early July 2020.
PENALTY RECRUDESCENCE
Thanks to recent regulatory provisions, the defenders of L1 do not know what to do with their hands. Indeed 80 penalties have been whistled so far against 56 last season. On the other hand, the shooters are more skillful with their feet: they converted 67 penalties out of 80 (83.75%), against 43 out of 56 (76.78%) last season.
BOARDS ON THE RISE
Yellow and red, the cards are coming out of the referees’ pockets more this season, especially the red ones. 689 yolks were distributed, 10% more than last season. 56 evictions have taken place so far, 25% more than in 2019-20.
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