How Ligue 1 is using schedule to stall Paris Saint-Germain
After winning the league title for a fourth consecutive season, it appears those in France are already bored of crowning the same champion year in and out, and have deduced the perfect way to stall Paris Saint-Germain in the title race.
Nine games into the season and Les Parisiens are yet to get into their strides in the league, managing just 17 points from a possible 24, a subpar return for Luis Enrique’s charge, who had already secured the Championship before losing a game last season, in round 31.
The European champions have struggled with series of injuries this season, but for a side who has been far superior to their closest rivals in the league, they could have had it better, but the timing of specific fixtures suggest the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) may have found a way to stop their dominance.
How Ligue 1 is using schedule to stall Paris Saint-Germain
The Ligue de Football Professionnel has scheduled the tough games to come early into the season for Luis Enrique‘s charge, to prevent them from running away with the title again.
This has posed serious troubles for a good run so far. Five of their eight games have come against teams that finished in the top 10 last season, and with Marseille, Lille, and Strasbourg making up three of their last four, they have managed just one win.
This move seems to be working fine because, with 17 points from their opening eight games, this is Paris Saint-Germain’s lowest point tally at this stage of a league season since 2016-17, when they ultimately lost the title to AS Monaco.
However, the real worry is that despite their slow start, the next clubs in line have not shown the consistency needed to make things difficult for the champions when they start firing on all cylinders.
Ligue 1 clubs failing to pick up the pieces
Olympique Marseille have shown great prospects in recent years and many would see them as next in line, and more likely to pounce on any PSG slip-up at the top.
Even though they currently lead the way with 18 points, one ahead of Les Parisiens, they have suffered losses. While the one at Lyon is understandable, the one at Rennes, who played more than 60 minutes with 10 men only to score an injury time winner, is unacceptable.
The likes of Lyon, Strasbourg, Lille and Monaco have also stepped up their games this season, but none has shown the consistency level required to challenge the champions for their title.
PSG’s dominance coming; It’s inevitable
PSG, despite their struggles in the league, have found consistent joy on the continent with an impressive three wins from three, including away to Barcelona without several star players, and now lead the league phase on goal difference.
With important players returning from injury, including Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembélé, it wouldn’t be far off that the European champions start to blow away their competitors in the league.
Luis Enrique will be keen to make use of upcoming fixtures against Brest, Lorient and OGC Nice to return to the Ligue 1 summit and dethrone Marseille, who also face considerably easy fixtures, but are known to falter when there’s so much pressure.
Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
