Marseille had started like a TGV, PSG had not and Lyon were quietly keeping pace with the in-form Alexandre Lacazette. The title race going into round 31 gave us this picture.
Of the fixtures in round 31 the "Le Classique" of Marseille v PSG was to have a massive bearing on where the title would be going. The game wasn't till the late Sunday night kick-off slot of 21:00. This was Lyon's big round as they faced a trip to mid-table Guingamp. Lyon duly won 3-1 to top the table ahead of the "Le Classique".
A Marseille victory would propel them into 2nd put pressure on Lyon but kick PSG into 3rd and set up a 7 game dash towards the title for the three competitors. A PSG victory would narrow it down to a foot race between them and Lyon. A 4th team did come into the reckoning in Monaco but a draw with Saint Étienne on the Friday realistically put them out of the running if there was to be a winner in "Le Classique".
The game was a thriller. André Pierre-Gignac put the south coast side ahead before Blaise Matuidi hauled PSG level. However Marseille were not going to let PSG leave with something and re-took the lead with Gignac grabbing a second just before half-time. Marseille were half-way there. A sting from PSG came shortly after the restart with a Marquinhos goal, 2-2. Disaster struck for Marseille as barely two minutes later PSG went in front with Jeremy Morel credited with an own goal. Marseille afterwards huffed and puffed at the PSG goal, atmosphere was rocking as they went in search of an equalizer and maybe more. PSG held out for a narrow but thrilling 3-2 victory.
It was now a two-horse race between PSG and Lyon. Seven games to decide it. Needless to say many were hoping Lyon would prevail.
Two weeks later Lyon suffered a set back with a 2-2 draw with Saint Etienne, PSG won away to Nice.
PSG ended victorious by a margin of eight points. Lyon had dropped with just a few games to go with further set backs against Bordeaux and Caen. PSG on the other hand had won all their remaining games. Many hadn't expected a title race let alone a three-horse race until April. PSG were challenged and it made Ligue 1 the most exciting title race of the big five leagues in 2014-15.
This season:
Now cast forward to this season and the picture couldn't be more duller. PSG have started this season strongly as opposed to last season where a slow start gave Marseille and Lyon the momentum to challenge. PSG have only dropped points twice this season in 13 games. Lyon after a sluggish start have climbed the table into 2nd but tonight suffered a major defeat in Nice by three goals to nil, giving PSG the opportunity to increase the gap to thirteen points.
Marseille on the other hand started horribly and haven't recovered. They find themselves down in 13th with no chance of a title challenge and their champions league hopes just about hanging on.
Unfortunately this season will be a very easy stroll for PSG towards a 4th title in a row. The riches available to them put them head and shoulders possibly torso above everyone else.
So while 2014-15 was a thrilling race that ultimately ended with PSG winning it was exciting. The same can't be said for this season and even at the bottom of the league it isn't exactly exciting. This summer the league made a baffling decision to reduce the number of relegation places from three to two. This effectively means no more last day drama in France with relegation. A quick look back in recent seasons shows that relegation in France has been drama filled. Monaco's relegation in 2011 being a standout or even the final day in 2013-14 where four sides were battling on the final day to stay up while the bottom two were relegated weeks beforehand. A massive own goal by the league to reduce the drama at the bottom because the drama won't be there at the top.
So Ligue 1 where inconsistency rules as PSG walk towards four in-a-row.
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