PARIS (AP) — With defending champion Paris Saint-Germain dropping more points than usual, French soccer fans may finally have a full-on Ligue 1 title race.
Entering Matchday 11 this weekend, the top six teams are separated by just two points. This has not happened since 2010, when Lille won the season just months before Qatari investors bought PSG.
PSG lost once and drew three times, giving them a precarious one-point lead over second-place Monaco.
Marseille, Strasbourg, Lyon and Lens are all one point behind Monaco.
Key matches
PSG coach Luis Enrique must decide whether to make changes at home to Nice, who have won their last three league games and are in eighth place. Deteriorating PSG have drawn three of their last four league matches.
Monaco coach Sebastian Pocognoli is hopeful the team won't lose five games since replacing eccentric Adi Hütter. Monaco hosts resilient Paris, who won 3-0 on Wednesday and drew with Lyon.
Marseille travel to penultimate Auxerre on Saturday and coach Roberto De Zerbi is in no mood to make another mistake.
Although Marseille have beaten PSG this season, the team remains inconsistent and continues to struggle defensively.
De Zerby feels irritated.
“We have to decide who we want to be: the team that played against PSG or the team that changes depending on the weather,” De Zerbi said after Angers' draw.
Players to watch
Erba Guirassi's two goals in Wednesday's 5-3 defeat to Monaco made him the youngest player to score a brace for Nantes in the top flight.
The winger will look to follow up on that performance when Nantes host a disappointing Metz side on Sunday.
Guirassi grew up in the Nantes academy and is the younger brother of prolific Borussia Dortmund striker Serou Guirassi.
Magnes Aklouche's brilliant performance for Monaco against Nantes – a goal, an assist and plenty of shots from deep – was a welcome return to form for the top-class attacking midfielder.
Strasbourg appear to have found a gem in attack, with newcomer Joaquin Panicelli leading the scoring charts with nine goals. The Alsace team will play in Rennes on Sunday.
Out of order
PSG striker Desire Douhet is out for several weeks after tearing a muscle in his right thigh during Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Lorient.
Marseille was left without midfielder Bilal Nadir, who lost in the second half on Wednesday in the match with Angers (2:2).
Marcel said hospital tests are encouraging and Nadir's health is not in danger. However, he remained under observation.
Outside the field
PSG is getting richer, with revenue last season reaching 837 million euros ($976 million).
In May, Forbes valued the club at $4.6 billion.
One of the main obstacles to generating much more income from matches is the Parc des Princes stadium. It seats around 48,500 spectators and the club wants the 60,000-seat stadium to be on par with other top European clubs.
PSG does not own the stadium because the Paris mayor's office owns it, and Mayor Anne Hidalgo has no intention of selling it.
So PSG may have to build a new stadium elsewhere. But at the same time he will have to move from the city to the outskirts, to Passy or Massy.
This move may not please historical fans.
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