It’s going to be a huge weekend in Ligue 1.
First, Paris Saint-Germain (1st) play Lille (2nd). Then, Lyon (3rd) travel to Lens (5th). And the top four are separated by just four points.
It’s all pointing to one of the most dramatic title races seen in France’s top flight for years.
A few weeks ago, Lille had looked favourites to continue their remarkable front-running form, and which was threatening to take the title away from PSG for only the second time in nine years.
But just one win in their last four league matches has seen them let PSG right back in the race. And, perhaps not coincidentally, that run was sandwiched by a 3-0 defeat to PSG in the Coupe de France, which no doubt hit morale in Les Dogues’ camp.
Let’s remember for a minute though how extraordinary it is for them to even be competing with Mauricio Pochettino’s side. PSG’s squad value, as per Transfermarkt, is a whopping 918 million euros, whereas Lille’s is just 295 million euros. Hardly apples with apples, is it?
What it does show is the terrific work done by their technical director, Luis Campos, and coach Christophe Galtier. Campos made his name building Monaco’s hugely successful young squad that were the last team to take the Ligue 1 crown from PSG.
For Fabinho and Bernardo Silva at Monaco, Campos this time has assembled another crop of talented stars, led by the likes of Jonathan David and Jonathan Bamba. Campos has also raided the Turkish market to great effect during his tenure with Lille, with Yusuf Yazici and Burak Yilmaz notching 16 goals collectively in the league this campaign.
As for PSG, the reboot is well and truly underway under Pochettino. The stale end to the Tuchel tenure has been brushed away, and PSG are into a Champions League quarter-final, a Coupe de France quarter-final and look strong again in the league. Neymar’s gradual return to fitness could spell trouble for all those opponents, too.
Lyon and Monaco – in 3rd and 4th in Ligue 1 – are also having fine seasons and could yet have a say in the destination of the title.
Despite being likely to move on from Lyon in the summer, Memphis Depay has shown no sign of distraction, racking up 14 goals and nine assists to put himself behind only Kylian Mbappe in the goal involvement rankings. Monaco, meanwhile, are benefiting from the goals and experience of Kevin Volland and Wissam Ben Yedder.
Both have some nominally easier fixtures ahead in the upcoming weeks and could make up the ground they need to.