As we approach the Christmas break and midway point of the 2016/2017 Ligue 1 season, the title race is really shaping up to be a more interesting affair than fans had expected. Reigning champs PSG have not been cruising along as anticipated, whilst Monaco and Nice continue to have impressive seasons to make the battle for the title a three-way affair.
Facts and Stats ahead of Ligue 1 Matchday 18
Here are five things you may or may not know ahead of the upcoming round of fixtures starting on Friday:
Ligue 1 Matchday 18 - U.S. viewing schedule
Below is the full U.S. schedule for round 18 of Ligue 1 action starting this Friday
Dec. 16: Angers vs Nantes on beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A, fuboTV at 11:45 AM PST/2:45 PM EST
Dec. 17: Guingamp vs PSG on beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A, fuboTV at 8:00 AM PST/11:00 AM EST
Dec. 17: Caen vs Metz at 11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST
Dec. 17: Lorient vs Saint-Étienne on beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A, fuboTV at 11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST
Dec. 17: Montpellier vs Bordeaux on beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A, fuboTV at 11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST
Dec. 17: Rennes vs Bastia at 11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST
Dec. 17: Toulouse vs Nancy on beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A, fuboTV at 11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST
Dec. 18: Nice vs Dijon on beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A, fuboTV at 6:00 AM PST/9:00 AM EST
Dec. 18: Olympique Marseille vs Lille on beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A, fuboTV at 8:00 AM PST/11:00 AM EST
Dec. 18: Monaco vs Olympique Lyonnais on beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A, fuboTV at 11:45 AM PST/2:45 PM EST
*For more information, please navigate to each match's specific page
Ligue 1 - Matchday 18 overview
PSG managed to halt Nice somewhat, but Les Parisiens did not have it easy against Les Aiglons. In fact, they were actually 2-0 down at home heading into the half-time break. Were it not for a brace from Edinson Cavani, they would have suffered their fourth loss of the season. That brings the Uruguayan striker to 16 goals, which is also half of PSG's total, and Unai Emery's men are not the highest scoring side in the league.
Far from it, in fact. Monaco have netted a whopping 53 goals, which is 21 more than both PSG and Nice and just 11 less than the two sides combined. They head into their next game after cruising to a 4-0 win on the road against Bordeaux. And it was a special match for Radamel Falcao, who netted a hat-trick for the first time in over four years to bring his tally to 10 for the season. The Colombian international, who has had an unfortunate struggle with injuries over the past few seasons, appears to be getting back to the form that helped him become one of the top rated strikers across Europe.
Meanwhile, Lyon will be looking to make it a third win on the trot, but Les Gones will face a very tough time against Les Rouges-et-Blancs. Not only do Leonardo Jardim's side know how to score, but their defense certainly is no slouch - especially at home, where they have yet to lose a game and have conceded just six goals thus far.
Ligue 1 - Matchday 18 standings
Here's how things stand so far after 17 rounds in the 2016/2017 Ligue 1 season. How will it look after matchday 18 concludes?
| Pos. | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PSG | 31 | 20 | 10 | 1 | 76 | 29 | +47 | 70 | DWWDW | |
| 2 | Monaco | 32 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 62 | 42 | +20 | 61 | WLWWW | |
| 3 | Brest | 32 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 49 | 33 | +16 | 57 | DWLLW | |
| 4 | Lille | 31 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 45 | 27 | +18 | 55 | WLWWW | |
| 5 | Nice | 31 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 36 | 25 | +11 | 51 | WDWDL | |
| 6 | Lens | 32 | 14 | 7 | 11 | 42 | 34 | +8 | 49 | WLWLD | |
| 7 | Rennes | 32 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 51 | 43 | +8 | 45 | WLWLL | |
| 8 | Olympique Marseille | 31 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 47 | 38 | +9 | 44 | WDDLL | |
| 9 | Olympique Lyonnais | 31 | 13 | 5 | 13 | 42 | 51 | -9 | 44 | WLWWD | |
| 10 | Montpellier | 32 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 41 | 44 | -3 | 40 | WDWDW | |
| 11 | Toulouse | 32 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 39 | 42 | -3 | 40 | LWDWD | |
| 12 | Reims | 31 | 11 | 7 | 13 | 38 | 45 | -7 | 40 | LLLDD | |
| 13 | Strasbourg | 32 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 35 | 47 | -12 | 36 | LLLWD | |
| 14 | Nantes | 32 | 9 | 6 | 17 | 29 | 49 | -20 | 33 | DDLWL | |
| 15 | Le Havre | 32 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 33 | 42 | -9 | 32 | WDLLD | |
| 16 | Metz | 32 | 8 | 5 | 19 | 34 | 54 | -20 | 29 | LLWWL | |
| 17 | Lorient | 32 | 6 | 8 | 18 | 37 | 63 | -26 | 26 | LLLLL | |
| 18 | Clermont | 32 | 5 | 10 | 17 | 26 | 54 | -28 | 25 | LWLDD |
