PSG calm, OL dropped by Liverpool: where are the Top 8 of the L1?

The PSG awaits its globalists, without forcing

The Parisian leader, deprived of so many globalists who benefit from ten days of rest before the club resumes (there were eight Parisians involved in the quarter-finals of the World Cup), does not rush his preparation. Paris Saint-Germain resumed group training on 7 December and have yet to play a friendly.

Christophe Galtier’s men will face two Ligue 2 sides. First Paris FC this Friday at the Camp des Loges, before hosting Quevilly on 21 December for one last test before the restart.

• Friendly matches:
  December 16: PSG-Paris FC
  December 21: PSG-Quevilly

• Resumption of Ligue 1: December 28: PSG-Strasbourg

Lens remains on French time

There is indeed one team that could have done without a reprieve, cutting their momentum of five consecutive wins, it is RC Lens. The PSG dolphin has chosen Spain to put down his bags. “It’s rare to have such long cuts, but it’s the same season. The goal is to stay in the mood, unity and game, in what we’ve been doing since the beginning of the season.“, launched Franck Haise, the coach of Racing a L’Équipe.

No international friendlies, Sang et Or chose French clubs to keep pace. Last Saturday they won against Montpellier (2-1), thanks to a brace from Steven Fortes. And then ? Franck Haise’s men, who have returned to France with their three globalists including Loïs Openda, will face Le Havre twice on the same day this Saturday. Then, Lensois will move to the Reims field on 21 December, before resuming the championship.

• Friendly matches:
  10 December: Lens-Montpellier (2-1)
  17 December: Lens-Le Havre (double face-off)
  December 21: Reims-Lens

• Resumption of Ligue 1: December 29: Nice-Lens

Deprived of its globalists, Rennes thinks of Europe

The current 3rd in the league has chosen Faro in Portugal to spend a week of training there. Without its seven globalists who will return in dribs and drabs, Bruno Genesio’s men won this Saturday against Celtic Glasgow (4-3). A victory obtained in a spectacular match where Amine Gouiri and Martin Terrier scored, among others.

Stade Rennes will continue with another European match this Friday against Feyenoord, also in Portugal. The way to maintain the right pace and European atmosphere before facing Shakhtar in the 16th Europa League final next February.

• Friendly matches:
  10 December: Rennes-Celtic Glasgow (4-3)
  16 December: Rennes-Feyenoord
  December 22: Rennes-Brest

• Resumption of Ligue 1: December 29: Reims-Rennes

OM don’t rush things

On November 13, the Marseilles won at the end of the suspense against Monaco (3-2), the last game before the break. A second win in a row, enough to relaunch Igor Tudor’s men (4th) and just one point off the podium before the second part of the season.

Like several Ligue 1 teams (Lens, Montpellier, Nice, Lyon), the OM players have just completed an internship, the “winter tour” in Marbella (Spain), where they were deprived of 5 globalists including two Blues (Guendouzi and Veretout). Before returning to France where they will face Nîmes for the second friendly, the OM boys lost this Sunday against Sassuolo (3-2). A victory snatched from the Azzurrini, who also took the lead twice, after Alexis Sanchez’s header and Dimitri Payet’s perfect shot.

• Friendly matches:
  11 December: OM-Sassuolo (2-3)
  December 19: OM-Nîmes

• Resumption of Ligue 1: December 29: OM-Toulouse

Lorient wants to keep up

The surprise guest of this top of the Ligue 1 standings (5th after 15 days) has chosen Catalonia to prepare for the second half. Les Merlus only played one game there for a draw against Osasuna.

Régis Le Bris’ men will now find the cold Breton and their only globalist, the Tunisian Montassar Talbi. Two French matches are scheduled and Friday’s trip to the Guingamp pitch before facing Nantes on 21 December.

• Friendly matches:
  10 December: Osasuna 1-1 Lorient
  16 December: Guingamp-Lorient
  21 December: Lorient-Nantes

• Resumption of Ligue 1: December 29: Lorient-Montpellier

Intensive and European preparation for Monaco

The Monegasques landed in Benidorm, south of Valencia (Spain) for a training course. Currently 6th in Ligue 1, the Principality club is still involved in the Europa League, where it will play the round of 16 against Bayer Leverkusen next February.

It was therefore in this European spirit that Philippe Clément’s men conceded a draw against Sevilla (1-1) on 7 December. From now on, Wissam Ben Yedder’s teammates, who have returned from Spain, will have to face two Italian clubs (Empoli and Fiorentina) before concluding their intense preparation with a match against Leeds United.

• Friendly matches:
  7 December: Sevilla-Monaco (1-1)
  16 December: Empoli-Monaco
  17 December: Fiorentina-Monaco
  December 21: Leeds United-Monaco

• Resumption of Ligue 1: December 28: Auxerre-Monaco

A busy schedule for Lille

Lille, 7th in the league, remain on their 5 wins in 6 Ligue 1 matches. For the start of the truce, LOSC chose to stay in the north, facing two Belgian D1 clubs. The Mastiffs won for the first time (1-0) against Club Brugge before conceding a draw in Ostend (2-2).

Paulo Fonseca’s men then also took the road to Spain where they beat Valladolid (2-0) on Saturday. But their intense preparation is not over yet. A meeting against Cambuur (Eredivisie) but also a possible trip to Italy to face Napoli was mentioned by La Voix du Nord. Perhaps the opportunity to bring back the two world strikers, Timothy Weah and Jonathan David.

Friendly matches:
2 December: Lille 1-0 Club Brugge
7 December: Ostend-Lille (2-2)
10 December: Valladolid-Lille (0-2)
16 December: Cambuur-Lille
December 21: Naples-Lille?

• Resumption of Ligue 1: December 28: Clermont-Lille

OL, it’s all or nothing

As for Olympique Lyonnais, the international break means a very busy schedule with five matches between 1 and 22 December. Perhaps the way to take advantage of this moment so that Laurent Blanc, who arrived at the helm of the team at the beginning of October after the farewell of Peter Bosz, definitively finds traces of him. Especially since OL needs a second wind if he wants to come back (8th before the second half of the season).

While training in Spain, the Lyonnais, deprived of two globalists including Argentine Nicolas Tagliafico, won for the first time against OH Louvain on December 1, eighth in the Belgian championship (5-3). A week later, Les Gones flew to the Emirates to play the Dubai Super Cup.

Laurent Blanc’s players first suffered a heavy defeat against Arsenal (3-0) which made headlines, in particular due to a totally missed panenka by Rayan Cherki. But this Sunday, the young hope, like his team, rose to beat Liverpool (3-1). A brace from Alexandre Lacazette and a goal from the young Bradley Barcola made us forget the Reds’ opening goal, after a few seconds of play. Mohamed Salah all three were walking on the grass. The Egyptian also missed a penalty, which was stopped by Anthony Lopez.

• Friendly matches:
  December 1: OL-OH Leuven (5-3)
  December 8: Arsenal OL (3-0)
  11 December: Liverpool OL (1-3)
  17 December: OL-Sochaux
  22 December: OL-Monza

• Resumption of Ligue 1: December 28: Brest-OL