The start of the second half of the 2021-22 season in the French top-flight is upon us, and the world will be eager to know whether PSG will be able to hold on to their lead and crown themselves as champions one year after Lille stripped the title from their hands.
Les Parisiens, with Messi and some stellar performances by Kylian Mbappé, have been tipped to become champions way before the end of the campaign, but they will have to survive some tough tests along the way, such as the one they will be facing this weekend away against Lyon.
Unfortunately, the effects of the coronavirus pandemic are still being felt in this country, which has forced Ligue 1 officers to postpone two games. The first one was supposed to feature Lorient against Lille, while the other postponed game involved Angers and Saint-Etienne. The rest of the games are set to go on as planned, although some last-minute decisions could still have an effect on how the weekend ends.
Here is a general state of the competition as we walk into the second half of the season in Ligue 1.
Top five teams in Ligue 1 ahead of Matchday 20
As mentioned before, PSG have secured the top spot to themselves after 19 games with 46 points, leaving Nice and Marseille thirteen points behind them in second and third place, respectively. Rennes and Montpellier complete the top five teams of the tournament with each of them owning 31 points. Luckily for their fans, all their games have been allowed to go on despite the current situation with COVID-19 in the league.
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Top games to watch on Matchday 20 games in Ligue 1
Brest vs Nice: The currrent league runners-up enter the second half of the campaign facing a tricky match against Brest, a team that ended 2021 with a loss and a draw. Nice are on a two-game winning streak, and if they want to keep their second place in the league, they will need to keep the good work going even if they play away from home.
Nantes vs Monaco: The winner of this match could end the weekend in the Top 5 of the French top-flight. Nantes are seventh and will make it to this game on a three-match winning streak. Meanwhile, Monaco returns to action with 29 points and having lost only one of their most recent six games. The first game between these teams in the season ended in a draw, which means that we could have a thrilling match in our hands.
Olympique Lyon vs PSG: Les Parisiens know that the title is theirs to lose this season, and beating Lyon this time around will not only cement their hopes to win the championship, but it would also eliminate a tough competitor from the title race. Lyon have struggled all season long to get points, and if they were to bounce back, this should be the game for them to start changing their fortunes. Nevertheless, it seems that Messi(who recovered from a COVID-19 diagnosis), Mbappé and Co. are set to take all the points home.
Who's in and who's out for Matchday 20 games in Ligue 1?
Nice: Injured: Robson Bambu. Ineligible: Mario Lemina.
Olympique Lyonnais: Injured: Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Sinaly Diomandé, Lenny Pintor, Jason Denayer.
Olympique Marseille: Injured: Valentin Rongier. Ineligible: Konrad de la Fuente, Oussama Thargalline.
PSG: Injured: Neymar, Julian Draxler. Ineligible: Sergio Rico, Nathan Bitumazala, Juan Bernat.
Full list of games for Matchday 20 games in Ligue 1
