Nice's win, coupled with draws for Monaco and PSG keep Les Aiglons within three points of catching Les Rouges-et-Blancs in what has been a very interesting title race thus far. Meanwhile, Le Classique may not have the same luster it once did, but it will be the big game of this matchday. Can Dimitri Payet, now back for another spell with his beloved Marseille, inspire them to victory against Les Parisiens on Sunday?
Facts and Stats ahead of Ligue 1 Matchday 27
Here are five things you may or may not know ahead of the upcoming latest edition of Le Classique this Sunday:
Ligue 1 Matchday 27 - U.S. viewing schedule
Below is the full U.S. schedule for round 27 of Ligue 1 action starting Friday:
Feb. 24: Nantes vs Dijon on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A. at 10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST
Feb. 24: Nice vs Montpellier on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A. at 11:45 AM PST/2:45 PM EST
Feb. 25: Guingamp vs Monaco on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A. at 8:00 AM PST/11:00 AM EST
Feb. 25: Angers vs Bastia on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A. at 11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST
Feb. 25: Lille vs Bordeaux on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A. at 11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST
Feb. 25: Nancy vs Toulouse on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A. at 11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST
Feb. 25: Rennes vs Lorient on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A. at 11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST
Feb. 26: Saint-Étienne vs Caen on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A. at 6:00 AM PST/9:00 AM EST
Feb. 26: Olympique Lyonnais vs Metz on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A. at 8:00 AM PST/11:00 AM EST
Feb. 26: Olympique Marseille vs PSG on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A. at 12:00 PM PST/3:00 PM EST
*For more information, please navigate to each match's specific page
Ligue 1 - Matchday 27 overview
Monaco are still on top of the Ligue 1 table, despite drawing their last fixture with Bastia. Leonardo Jardim's men are also the highest scoring side in Europe, but will be coming into this game having conceded five goals against Manchester City in their round of 16 first leg tie. That eight goal thriller was also the highest scoring ever in a first leg knock-out round match, and provided plenty of entertainment from start to finish for neutrals. Jardim, however, will hope that the exertions from their game in England, which saw Radamel Falcao net a brace, will not have taken too much out of his side as they travel to face Guingamp on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Nice will have to make do without Mario Balotelli. The enigmatic Italian was given yet another red card during the team's narrow 1-0 win against Lorient for hurling abuse at a referee. With Alassane Plea still recovering from an injury, Lucien Favre will have to figure out who will be leading the line for their Friday clash against Montpellier.
Finally, Sunday will feature another edition of Le Classique. Marseille currently sit in sixth spot, just out of touching distance of a European football berth for next term. Meanwhile, PSG are joint-tied on points with Nice, but ahead on goal difference. Can Unai Emery's men close the gap on Monaco by taking all three points from the biggest game of matchday 27?
Ligue 1 - Matchday 27 standings
Here's how things stand so far after 26 rounds in the 2016/2017 Ligue 1 season. How will it look after matchday 27 concludes?
| Pos. | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PSG | 30 | 20 | 9 | 1 | 73 | 26 | +47 | 69 | WWDWW | |
| 2 | Monaco | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 56 | 38 | +18 | 58 | WWWWD | |
| 3 | Brest | 30 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 44 | 29 | +15 | 53 | LLWWD | |
| 4 | Lille | 30 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 43 | 26 | +17 | 52 | LWWWD | |
| 5 | Nice | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 33 | 24 | +9 | 48 | DWDLW | |
| 6 | Lens | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 39 | 32 | +7 | 46 | WLDLL | |
| 7 | Rennes | 30 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 44 | 36 | +8 | 42 | WLLLW | |
| 8 | Olympique Marseille | 30 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 45 | 37 | +8 | 41 | DDLLL | |
| 9 | Olympique Lyonnais | 30 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 39 | 49 | -10 | 41 | LWWDW | |
| 10 | Reims | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 37 | 41 | -4 | 40 | LLDDW | |
| 11 | Toulouse | 30 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 36 | 39 | -3 | 37 | DWDWL | |
| 12 | Montpellier | 30 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 38 | 42 | -4 | 36 | WDWWL | |
| 13 | Strasbourg | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 33 | 41 | -8 | 36 | LWDWW | |
| 14 | Nantes | 30 | 9 | 4 | 17 | 28 | 48 | -20 | 31 | LWLWL | |
| 15 | Metz | 30 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 31 | 49 | -18 | 29 | WWLLL | |
| 16 | Le Havre | 30 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 27 | 38 | -11 | 28 | LLDLL | |
| 17 | Lorient | 30 | 6 | 8 | 16 | 36 | 59 | -23 | 26 | LLLLD | |
| 18 | Clermont | 30 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 21 | 49 | -28 | 22 | LDDLW |
