5 Storylines As Ligue 1 Returns From International Break
5 key storylines to follow as Ligue 1 returns to action after the international break
PSG's toughest fight for the title
A triple whammy of woes blighted the start of PSG's defense of their Ligue 1 title, but six games in and Thomas Tuchel's men are now starting to move through the gears.
But a fearsome forward line of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Mauro Icardi and Angel di Maria along with some handy reinforcements in the transfer market has put PSG in a strong position to become Kings of France once again. However the title rivals this season are going to be fiercer than ever before.
Kings of Lyon to begin title push
Although the Champions League semifinalists have labored at the start of the season with just the single victory from six, Lyon are set to make a move up the standings after a month of instability in Ligue 1.
Despite transfer rumors over the departures of Dutch striker, Memphis Depay, and imperious playmaker, Houssem Aouar, the summer transfer window actually saw Lyon reinforced. Both players will remain with OL and the team has been strengthened by the youth and excitement of Brazilian midfielder, Lucas Paqueta and the experience of Italian fullback, Mattia De Sciglio.
If Lyon's conservative coach, Rudi Garcia, is willing to release Lyon's brakes a little, it is a talented team that could go far this season in the title race.
Eduardo Camavinga continues journey as Europe's breakout star
If any team in Europe is on the up and up it's Rennes. The Brittany club is riding the crest of an incredible wave and currently sits at the top of the Ligue 1 standings and is on the brink of competing in the Champions League having finished third in the table last season.
The driving force of the team is the 17-year-old all-purpose midfielder, Eduardo Camavinga, who is already starring for the French national team. Although Camavinga has been courted by some of the biggest clubs in Europe, the youngster says that Rennes is the best place for his ongoing development into one of the breakout stars of the global game.
A North-American feel at Lille
The emergence of North American soccer players of world class quality is not just to be found in Barcelona, Chelsea, Juventus and Bayern Munich.
The exciting sporting project currently being run at Lille has two North American strikers in their ranks. Canadian forward, Jonathan David, was brought in for a fee of $35 million and and has already contributed to a flying start to Lille which sees the team second in the standings and undefeated.
USMNT forward, Timothy Weah, is also leading the line for Lille and looking to rebuild a promising career that has been heavily hampered with injury.
Monaco are officially back in business
A blast from the past looks set to challenge the highly competitive race for the Champions League places in Ligue 1. Monaco are officially back in business.
The three years since winning the Ligue 1 crown have not gone well for a Monaco team that has seen too many changes on the bench and too many talent players leaving. However, former Bayern Munich coach, Niko Kovac, has arrived in Monte Carlo to add steel and direction to a roster packed with talent such as forward, Wissam Ben Yedder, and Russian midfielder string-puller, Aleksandr Golovin.
