Stade Brestois maintained their grip on second place for another week running. It was a vital point against Champions League rivals Lille OSC in a tightening race at the top and a demonstration of a growing trend in France. Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Hartland. This season remains a surprise for Stade Brestois, […]
Paris Saint-Germain visited LOSC in the penultimate match before Ligue 1 pauses for the winter’s break. Both teams entered this match in great form in the league, and there was an expectation that this could prove to be a tantalizing affair. However, what came to pass was a cagey affair dotted with flashpoints of excitement, […]
AS Monaco and LOSC failed to live up to their last meeting which ended in a thrilling 4-3 victory for Lille. The two sides looked to solidify their grip on European football next year with a stalemate that suited neither side but more importantly, did not damage their positions. Tactical analysis and match report by […]
A key clash in Lille’s quest to qualify for European football next season saw them host Lyon, who were far from where they wanted to be as they started the match down in tenth spot. The hosts were in a commanding position in the second half, but ended up throwing away a two-goal lead to […]
The reuniting of Neymar, Messi and Mbappé had spectacular consequences in a thrilling Ligue 1 game. It was a story of individual brilliance versus collective quality, with the former taking the spoils courtesy of a stoppage-time winning free-kick. Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Smoothy. On paper, this Ligue 1 matchup was a meeting […]
The task of a coach is to make the most of the players he has at his disposal. Christophe Galtier, now at the top of the pile in Ligue 1, has not lost sight of this purpose. Decentring himself from media attention, he liberated his stars to remind France of the killer instinct they had […]
The defending French champions visited the side that had only avoided relegation last season by virtue of winning the play-off. A lot was at stake in this clash as the two sides were separated by just one point going into the match. Being sixth and eighth in the table, a win for either team had […]
In a crisis, a leader has two primary options: unearth a unique answer, or go back to familiar ideas. Thomas Tuchel has delved deep into both choices, but at home to an outfit wallowing through their own campaign, the return of a back three was the gateway to a routine victory. Tactical analysis and match […]
As reigning champions faced the champions elect, the former had one final chance to show why they upset the apple cart last campaign. However, their guests had decided it was their day to affirm their class. Putting Lille to the sword, PSG upset the odds themselves with the tenets of a commanding display that could […]
Defending Ligue 1 champions Lille travelled to face Marseille in the headline clash of the weekend in French football. An early red card heavily shaped this match, as Sampaoli’s possession-based approach tried to breach Lille’s two banks of four, with mixed results. Tactical analysis and match report by Neel Shelat. Last week had been unpleasant […]