Ligue 1 has hardly offered much in terms of competition over the last few years, with oil-rich Paris Saint-Germain buying their way to four consecutive league titles. However, their period of dominance appears to be coming to an end, with the reemergence of former heavyweights Monaco and up-and-coming side OGC Nice providing PSG with a much needed challenge in the 2016/17 title race.
With the first half of the season behind us, the top three sides have opened up a comfortable gap at the summit of the Ligue 1 table. However, with the second half of the season now underway, just three points separate first place from third.
There is still a long way to go before the title race is decided, but which team appears to have the advantage over their rivals?
Paris Saint-Germain
Given their success over the last four years, PSG can’t be discredited. They haven’t had the best of seasons, yet their squad have more experience than their opponents in the title race.
Unai Emery’s side have suffered some disappointing defeats over the course of the campaign, against the likes of Toulouse, Guingamp and Montpellier. With tough games against Marseille, Monaco, Guingamp and Olympique Lyon still to come, they can be expected to drop more points in the future. However, the latter three of those fixtures come at home, where PSG remain unbeaten in 10 matches so far this season.
Monaco in particular will be a tough test, which could set them up for the rest of the campaign. With a visit to Nice coming in the final few weeks, PSG certainly have one of the toughest run-ins and, unfortunately, the most points to make up if they are to take the top spot.
OGC Nice
Despite climbing rapidly up the Ligue 1 table over the last few seasons, few would have predicted that Nice would still be in the title race at this stage of the campaign. Lucien Favre’s side have occupied top spot for much of the season, but a disappointing 0-0 draw with FC Metz following the winter break saw them overtaken by Monaco. They will need to get back to winning ways quickly if they are to avoid falling away, but if they can rediscover their form they are certainly in with a chance.
A visit to Monaco’s Stade Louis II in a few weeks could be crucial, but if they get through that game then they have a fairly easy schedule up until the final few weeks, when they face PSG, Marseille and Lyon in three of their final four matches. With little title race experience to call upon, it would still be a big ask for Nice to walk away with the title.
Monaco
Monaco have been waiting patiently for their chance to pounce since October and that moment came against Marseille, when yet another convincing victory saw them leapfrog Nice into first place.
They are unlikely to lose top spot against bottom-placed FC Lorient, but they are in for a wave of pressure in the weeks that follow, with a trip to PSG quickly followed by a visit from fellow challengers Nice. Leonardo Jardim will be confident that his side can emerge from both fixtures with points on the board - if so, their biggest games would be behind them and there will be very little left to worry about between February and May.