Monaco continues, PSG and OM are looking for a second wind… 7 reasons to follow the resumption of the championship

2024-10-18 04:30:00

The French championship will resume on Friday 18 October with nine matches scheduled for the eighth matchday. Le Figaro takes stock of the issues.

Will PSG find the magic formula?

After a fantastic start to the season, Luis Enrique’s side have struggled a little more in recent weeks, picking up one win in their last four matches. With the reception of Strasbourg (Saturday at 9pm), Paris Saint-Germain must find color against a young and successful opponent who beat Olympique Marseille three weeks ago (1-0). Marquinhos and his teammates need to gain confidence before traveling to Marseille for the Classic on October 27.

Can Monaco keep up?

After a perfect start to the season, AS Monaco returns to the league with a great performance against LOSC (Friday, 9pm). Adi Hütter’s players resume with three games in the space of a week, but fate befalls the Principality team with the injury of Folarin Balogun, who has been absent for two months. The American striker has been AS Monaco’s most prolific striker since the start of the championship, while his friends Ilhenikena and Embolo have remained silent for the moment.

Lyon for the pass from three?

Pierre Sage’s OL could get the deal of the weekend if Strasbourg and Lille lose. Traveling to Le Havre (Sunday at 3pm), the Lyonnais are aiming for a third consecutive victory in the league and the top 5 in the table. The momentum gained before the break and the awakening of consciences after the traumatic Olympics have put OL back on track. But for how long?

A complicated truce for the OM

Unlike OL, Olympique Marseille have not won a match since the shock of September 22nd. After disappointing results against Strasbourg (1-0) and Angers (1-1), Roberto de Zerbi’s OM arrives in Montpellier with the taste of revenge in their mouths. The Focesi will have to show a more conquering face a week before the Classic at home against PSG. This new face must also be shown by his new captain, Léo Balerdi, who was expected to have difficulty adapting to his new status as well as suffering a complicated start to the season. Furthermore, OM lost Valentin Carboni for the season, suffering a cruciate ligament injury with the Argentine selection. Traveling to Montpellier this Sunday (9pm), the Marseille club must find something to reassure themselves before the match of the year at the Vélodrome.

Last chance for Julien Stéphan?

With just one win in their last five games, Stade Rennais continues to disappoint despite a team that has the potential to be European. Away at Francis le Blé against Brest (Saturday at 5pm), Rouge et Noir are perhaps one defeat away from a change of manager. Julien Stéphan’s situation at Rennes is far from pleasant and the former Strasbourg manager finds himself in a situation of dismissal.

Return to reality for Kolo Muani?

Now France’s top scorer in 2024, Randal Kolo Muani does not yet enjoy starter status at PSG. The striker, who played for Eintracht Frankfurt, had not scored for the club since September 1 against Lille (PSG’s 1-3 win), that is six matches in all competitions. Struggling with the system put in place by Luis Enrique, the young striker has undoubtedly regained his confidence following his brace against Belgium last Monday.

Will the excitement of Reims continue?

After Will Still’s departure in defeat and fall last April, it was difficult to imagine seeing Stade de Reims playing the main roles this season. But with four wins in seven games (and two draws against PSG and OM), the Rémois are the surprise of this start to the championship. Led by the attacking trio Ito-Diakité-Nakamura, the experienced Munetsi in the center and some promising youngsters, Reims could well play against the troublemakers at the top of the table.