SAN FRANCISCO, December 24, (THEWILL) – The Ligue 1 competition at the top of the table stayed fiery into the cold Christmas period. Olympique Lyonnais have maintained a strong form since the start of this campaign that has seen the side sustain only one loss after Matchday 17. While netting 34 goals, they have conceded 14. This has meant that they are atop the table going into Christmas.
However, Lyon’s statistics are matched by Lille, who are second on the log. With similar match results for wins, draws and losses, the two top teams are only separated by the goal-difference metric with Lille having scored less and conceded less than Lyon.
Since they both won their matches on Wednesday, Lyon hosting and thrashing Nantes 3-0 and Lille leaving it late to overcome Montpellier, there was no change in the standings and no movement at the summit between numbers one and two.
Heading into their final game of 2020, PSG were 11th in the form tracking for the six Ligue 1 matches since the November international break. However, Thomas Tuchel’s charges won deservedly against a poor Strasbourg on Wednesday, taking advantage of half of their eight shots on target to put four past goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.
This victory keeps them within breathing distance of the joint League leaders because although they have lost three more matches than Lyon and Lille, they have been able to keep the draws to just one. Therefore, PSG end 2020 a point behind the top two.
In the absence of Brazilian playmaker Neymar Jr as a result of an ankle injury, the French attacker Kylian Mbappe has been shouldering the shooting responsibilities admirably; he had to pass a late fitness test to be deemed ready enough to start the Strasbourg match.
Mbappe is recovering from an adductor injury that kept him on the bench until late on against Lille in the previous weekend which ended in a stalemate. He cut a frustrating figure during the match especially in the first half, but he did manage to score through one of only two attempts.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
