Who will have the best champions league campaign amongst the French Teams?
After a first night in the Champions League where we saw Lyon draw at home to Zenith and Lille get thrashed 3-0 against last year’s semi-finalist Ajax, we can draw a few conclusions while we wait for PSG to start against Real Madrid tonight.
The first two drew fairly open groups, where everything is to win but also to lose. Lyon probably came up against the toughest opponent on the paper with Zenith last night and did not show much prospect. Lyon having a trend to show up in big games such as Manchester City and PSG last season but fail to turn up against sides they should be at least dominating if not easily winning. This has been going on for a few seasons and it seems they are going into a new season with a similar path. While Leipzig beat Benfica in the other game in Group G, it looks like Lyon are competing against themselves. With new tactics and a new coach in Sylvinho, they can be incredible like they were in their first two opening games in the league, but also particularly poor if they fail to put any effort into the game. How will this Lyon team look by the end of the group stage? I still feel they should be topping the group but Leipzig as usual look ready to cause an upset, now on the continental level rather than simply the national one. Realistically, Lyon if they show a bit of motivation, will qualify. After that, it really depends on who they get in the last 16: after a good first leg against Barcelona at home, they were taught a lesson at the Nou Camp earlier this year. They have the quality to go to the quarters if they get a fairly accessible opponent.
Meanwhile, Lille were taught a lesson in Amsterdam last night. Just like a few years ago in their last European campaign, they were hit very hard by Bayern Munich (6-1 defeat in 2012), just 18 months after being crowned French champion. Ajax just came out of a rocky summer, which saw them lose a few important elements which enabled them to rock the whole of Europe by beating Juventus and Real Madrid last season. Yet, the Dutch still put out a display like no other against the French side. Lille also lost the likes of Nicolas Pepe to Arsenal this summer after a sensational season which saw them achieve their best league position in years. However, they were still putting in great performances in the league since the start of the season. Unfortunately, just like against Munich, Europe is a huge step up from the French league and little mistakes are unforgivable. Ajax scored three goals, including two headers which saw Lille’s defence abandon the players they were marking and a lack of concentration on Neres’ goal. Small mistakes make the difference at this level and the young French side paid for it. While Lille were one of the most exciting teams last season, the youth and inexperience at this level could be costly in a group which saw Valencia beat Chelsea in London. Lille could very well finish last or pick it up and qualify at least for the Europa League seeing as the other three teams have been pretty inconsistent since the start of the season. If they do manage to pull off a qualification, it might be the end for them in the last 16, although I would see them going further in the Europa League if they scrape a third spot in the group.
Meanwhile, Paris comes into the competition tonight after facing a pretty rocky summer, Neymar being the focal point. Eventually, they managed to keep the Brazilian in their ranks, a brilliant talisman who scored the winner with a bicycle kick this weekend after being booed all game by his fans. PSG also added the likes of Ander Herrera, Sarabria, Diallo, but also three-time Champions League winner, Keylor Navas, and the incontrollable but efficient Mauro Icardi. More depth, more quality, a stable goalkeeper situation and a coach that has everything to prove after another continental failure last season. Sporting Director, Leonardo, has put the club back into place, putting the institution above the players, which seemed to be less and less the case with Ibrahimović, Mbappé and lately Neymar, players who felt they could be bigger than the club. They will be facing a team who is managed by Zinedine Zidane, with a squad who has won 4 times the European Cup in the last 6 seasons. However, the departure of Ronaldo last summer and the rocky situation between players-manager and president means results haven’t followed the expectations set at the club. PSG could be facing one of the most unstable Real Madrid sides in a decade. However, the French arrives without Neymar (suspended), Cavani or Mbappé (injured). They have to put faith in the new signings and a global collective force which seemed stronger than ever. This could be a first turning point for the French champions in the group, which includes Club Brugge and Galatasaray. A first impressive win could not only make them strong favourites to top the group, but also send a message to Europe that Paris is ready for a challenge. I see them having the best campaign out of the three French sides this season in the Champions League, with a more or less realistic objective of passing the quarter finals for the first time since 1995. Getting over their own fears which appeared after the Remontada in 2016 would be a start and passing the last 16 is a must for Tuchel after three consecutive failures, not only for his position but also to keep a few key players next season.
In conclusion, Lyon just like Paris can go far if they stay focussed, rely on their incredible talent and stop fearing oppositions. The quality is there in both sides, but past traumas and inconsistency have seen both sides be inherently unpredictable. Lille on the other hand could be in for a very tough campaign with a very young and inexperienced squad which lacks depth.
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