Laissez faire in Ligue 1

We’re closing in on the first quarter of the season in French Ligue 1 and everything seems to be on track for another predictable season. At the top of the pack are the usual suspects: Marseille, Bordeaux, Lille, PSG and… wait what, Metz? The newly promoted club with no expectations has been able to garner the same amount of points as heavy spending title holders PSG, who have struggled with only three victories out of eight matches. How did that happen?



The newcomers have been extremely lucky with their schedule, facing the only top teams (Lyon, Lille) after their endeavors in the European competitions. With the energy Metz is playing, they’ve been able to exploit the tiredness of the clubs that have seen action only few days earlier. That being said, credit must be given for beating the other relegation candidates rather easy, however we can be prepared to see a slump in form come the busy winter and tougher opponents. It is likely that Metz will be overrated by bookmakers because of the strong start to the campaign.

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If we take a look at the other end of the table, it seems like business as usual. Both Reims and Guingamp were highly overachieving last season and many would say are at their rightful position at the bottom of the bunch as of now. By winning the Coupe de France last season, Guingamp made life difficult by having to take part in European League this season, which might end up costing them the spot in Ligue 1. Their squad is not used to the added workload and is definitely not deep enough to compete in two fronts. We can expect Guingamp to suffer some heavy losses, especially if they decide to go all-in in both competitions.

Surprisingly the top dog in France after eight rounds is Olympique Marseille. Surprisingly only because everyone thought it would’ve been PSG all the way. Marseille has definitely earned its spot on top, playing high-tempo attacking football and boasting arguably the most talented lineup after the Parisian giants. Nevertheless it is remarkable how easy the schedule has been for the southerners and it yet remains to be seen how they’ll fare against the other top teams – especially with the target on their back. What goes up, must come down they say. PSG is still the favorite to pick up the pace and take the title, with Bordeaux, Marseille and Lille right at their heels.

Teams overachieving through eight matches: Metz, Marseille

Teams underachieving through eight matches: Lorient, Monaco