There were mixed results for the teams all battling for a European football spot this past weekend; however, there's still one team who's clearly leading the way, and that's PSG. Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the table, a struggling side finally got the result they desperately needed - a win - but they'll obviously have to do more than that if they want to stay afloat in French football's top tier this season.
Here's all you need to know following this weekend's Ligue 1 action.
Top five teams in Ligue 1 up to November 8
Here's how the table looks after last weekend's matches
Who are top three goalscorers in Ligue 1?
Here's how the race looks for the title of top goalscorer in Ligue 1
Top Ligue 1 headlines, stats, and other facts
Bordeaux make things a lot harder for PSG than expected: With a quick brace from Neymar plus a goal from Kylian Mbappe in the first half, PSG really thought they were home free as they held a very comfortable 3-0 lead going into the second 45. However, Bordeaux had other plans, pulling two goals back and setting things up for a nervy finish. Much food for thought for Mauricio Pochettino's side after Les Parisiens had to settle for a two-all draw after conceding a late goal against RB Leipzig in their midweek Champions League tie.
Saint-Etienne finally get a win: It took them 13 games, but Saint-Etienne have finally picked up a win. What made their result even more impressive is that they not only had to come from two goals down against newly promoted Clermont, but all three of their goals were scored in the last 20 minutes of the match. Now eyes will be on the struggling side, who presently sit in 19th spot, to see whether they'll be able to use this as a springboard to start working their way up the table.
Genesio's magic touch: Rennes have been in impressive form since Bruno Genesio took over this past March. At the present, they sit in a very solid fifth place, with four wins from their last five games. Indeed, since his arrival, they've picked up 29 points at home, with nine wins, two draws, and just one loss - which is a better record than any other club in Ligue 1 during that same time period.
Top Ligue 1 matches: November 19 - November 21, 2021
Ligue 1 is unfortunately set to be interrupted yet again due to another installment of international fixtures, but fans won't have to wait too long to see their favorite players and teams back in action. Here are some of the games you won't want to miss once Ligue 1 get back underway starting on Friday, November 19th:
Monaco vs Lille: It's been a tough season for the reigning Ligue 1 champs, who are actually now closer to the drop zone than they are to seriously challenging to retain their crown. Like Lille, Monaco, who, along with Montpellier, are just one of three sides other than PSG to win the Ligue 1 title in the past decade, have had a torrid time this season and also are not too far off from the drop zone. Both teams have picked up 18 points so far and will be desperate to turn their fortunes around when they clash in less than two weeks' time.
PSG vs Nantes: On paper, this should be a straightforward game for PSG. Les Parisiens have opened a whopping ten point lead over the chasing pack, and that extends to 16 when compared to Nantes. In short, PSG have picked up nearly twice as many points versus their upcoming visitors (34 vs 18). However, given the way they actually had to fight to secure a win over relegation-threatened Bordeaux, this match surely will not be something that Pochettino will be approaching in a very casual manner.
Olympique Lyonnais vs Olympique Marseille: The famous Choc des Olympiques (Clash of the Olympics) is akin to the Borussen Derby over in Germany that features Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Moenchengladbach. The last meeting betwen Lyon and Marseille finished as a one-all draw back at the end of February, and it'll be one of the highlight matches once French football resumes in about a fortnight. As things stand, Marseille are presently in fourth, within touching distance of a Champions League berth, and are unbeaten in their last five games, while Lyon find themselves in seventh spot, with two losses from their last five ties.
Make sure you don't miss out on these key games and stay on top of all the action by checking out our bespoke Ligue 1 match page.
