While many have joked over the years that Ligue 1 is a “farmers’ league”, that notion is far from reality at least so far this 2022-23 season.
Nine matchdays in and it’s getting tight at the top with four clubs fighting tooth and nail. PSG remain on top with 25 points, while Marseille, Lorient, and Lens round out the top four with 23, 22, and 21 points respectively.
There will be more matches to come in France’s top-flight that will surely excite SBOTOP football fans. But before we get into matchday 10, first, let’s review some key takeaways from last weekend.
Marseille unleash on stuttering Angers
Marseille have had a mixed bag of results last September as they’ve won thrice, lost twice, and drawn once across all competitions.
While they’ve had a bad start to their Champions League campaign with consecutive defeats to Tottenham and Eintracht Frankfurt, it was the opposite here in Ligue 1 since they’re one of the three teams remaining who have yet to taste a league defeat.
After being held to a 1-1 draw against Rennes, Marseille got back to winning ways on Saturday with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over the 15th seeded Angers as Jonathan Clauss, Luis Suarez, and Gerson all scored.
It was a confidence-boosting result and that carried over to yesterday’s Champions League group stage game against 10-man Sporting where they beat them 4-1.
Francisco Trincao gave the Portuguese side the lead, but Les Olympiens replied with first-half goals from Alexis Sanchez, Amine Harit, and Leonardo Balerdi before Chancel Mbemba added one for good measure.
Because of their good run of Ligue 1 2022 results, Marseille have 23 points after nine games for the first time since the 1990-91 season where they won their 7th league title. Like most teams around Europe, October is going to be a busy month for them.
Lorient continue their fairytale run
Lorient have defied the Ligue 1 2022 odds as they’re punching above their weight this term. They’re currently behind Marseille and PSG at third place – which is in stark contrast to their 16th place finish last term.
Les Merius are now winners of five straight which is their best ever run in France’s top-flight. The last time that they did this was a stretch between November and December 2013.
Regis Le Bris, who was appointed last June to replace Christophe Pelissier, has hit the ground running in his first campaign as Ligue 1 manager by getting the best out of his youngsters such as Terem Moffi, Dango Ouattara, Enzo Le Fee, and Ibrahima Kone. These Under-25 stars have accounted for 14 goals and five assists thus far.
Last Sunday, Lorient were pushed by Lille as they were reduced to 10 men when Dango Ouattara was sent off. They took the lead early via a Bafode Diakite own goal, but Jonathan David managed to find the equaliser.
Substitute Theo Le Bris remarkably scored the game-winning goal as he collected a cross from Gedeon Kalulu and broke into the box to finish past Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.
The law of averages will eventually catch up to Lorient as we go along. They may not win Ligue 1 this season, but the future is bright for this young squad assuming they maintain their core.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe get the job done against Nice
Any Ligue 1 review is incomplete without examining the defending champions, PSG.
They remain unbeaten across all competitions thus far with 10 wins and one draw. Christophe Galtier definitely didn’t grant any favours for his old team Nice as PSG beat them 2-1 last weekend.
The MNM combo was in full effect once more. Lionel Messi put the Parisiens ahead at the 28th minute with a stunning free kick, while Neymar almost scored via a promising set-piece eight minutes later.
Nice drew level eventually courtesy of Gaetan Laborde two minutes after half-time and it looked like they will reclaim control.
However, Kylian Mbappe was brought in and proved to be the difference for PSG as he delivered the match-winner at the 83rd minute.
Mbappe was supposed to have the night off since they have a huge Champions League game tomorrow, but with Marseille hot on their heels, Galtier knew that they couldn’t let this one go.
Next up for PSG are Benfica as both sides battle for the top spot in Group H. The Parisiens are the favourites to win the said match which would only help them in their pursuit of that elusive Champions League crown.
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