Matchday 29 of the 2020/2021 Ligue 1 campaign is now done and dusted, and there were plenty of surprise results along the way. That includes a relegation candidate pulling off an upset, while another team finally seem to be finding their way under their new manager after a turbulent period.
Let's have a look at what took place over this weekend's round of fixtures.
Top five teams in Ligue 1 up to March 15
None of the top four teams had a great matchday 29, as Lille, PSG, Lyon, and Monaco all failed to win. Only Marseille, who sits well behind in fifth spot managed to pick up all three points from their match against Brest in a 3-1 victory on Saturday
Who are the top three scorers in Ligue 1?
Not much change in the race for the top scorer's prize, with Kylian Mbappe continuing to lead the pack despite failing to score in his side's 2-1 loss on Sunday
Top Ligue 1 headlines
PSG's shock defeat: Les Parisiens blew a golden chance to potentially reclaim top spot as they slumped to a surprise 2-1 loss to Nantes. That marks the second defeat in their last five Ligue 1 fixtures, and even more concerning for Mauricio Pochettino is that this marks the first time since November 2012 that PSG have lost back to back home games in Ligue 1. Meanwhile, Nantes are currently battling for their top flight survival. In fact, they sit in 18th spot, but with this win, it certainly will encourage them to continue pushing as they are now just a point away from 17th-placed Lorient.
As for the reigning champs, it's safe to say that they will be eager to put this result behind them as they face a very tough test against Lyon this upcoming weekend.
Lille's mean defense: Although Les Dogues weren't able to find a way past Monaco, their opponents couldn't break them down, either. As of now, the current league leaders have conceded just 17 times all season, which is their best result since, well, never. In addition, Christophe Galtier's side presently boast the meanest defense in the top flight, with reigning title holders PSG coming in at second (19 goals conceded).
Marseille's revival: Jorge Sampaoli's arrival seems to have sparked something in Marseille, as the once-struggling side have now seen their fortunes improve as they've moved into fifth spot. Although the title is well out of reach, a European football berth certainly isn't. Notably, Sampaoli also matched a record after winning his first two games, as seen here:
2 - Jorge Sampaoli became the first coach to win his first two Ligue 1 games on the Marseille bench since Elie Baup in August 2012. Awakening. pic.twitter.com/Jp3KrRih9Y
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) March 13, 2021
Top Ligue 1 matches: March 19-21, 2021
Saint-Etienne vs Monaco: Monaco endured frustration as they were unable to beat Lille as Les Rouges-et-Blancs attempt to make a late charge for the Ligue 1 title. They'll be eager to get back on track and avoid making it a third consecutive match sans a win as they prepare to travel to face Saint-Etienne on Friday to kick off matchday 30.
Lille vs Nimes: After a frustrating result that saw them fail to find a way past Monaco, league leaders Lille, who have alternated between a draw and a win from their last five games, will hope that pattern holds as they prepare to host relegation-threatened Nimes. Of course, Les Dogues won't be taking their opponents lightly, as we all saw how 18th-placed Nantes gave PSG a rude shock at the Parc des Princes last weekend. A win here could potentially see Lille move as much as six points clear if PSG can't find a way past Lyon, and with one or both teams set to drop points, this game really could end up playing into Lille's hands.
Lyon vs PSG: In a battle that will pit third-placed Lyon against second-placed PSG, this is certainly the game of round 30. Les Gones have had a very impressive campaign so far as Rudi Garcia's men have firmly positioned themselves as serious challenges for the Ligue 1 crown. Meanwnhile, PSG underwent a managerial change midway and will be hoping that the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino will ensure not only their success domestically, but also in Europe. This match could prove decisive in terms of who is ranked where at the end of this campaign, so it will be very interesting to see which side - if any - is able to come out on top here.
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