Four teams classified in three points five lengths from the finish, this had not happened for a quarter of a century and the 1995-1996 season - with Auxerre, PSG, Monaco and Metz classified in that order at the finish.
This shows the exceptional nature of the 2020-2021 edition, the suspense and the thrill that will reign in the next five weeks.
Will Lille retain its leadership?
Will PSG snatch a 4th consecutive title?
Monaco will he win the momentum?
Will Lyon reverse the situation?
To answer these questions, we interviewed ten former players, coaches and consultants.
And the majority sees the PSG get by.
LILLE (1st, 70 points): "Le Losc feels a bit of the wear and tear of power"
Of those questioned, only Alain Perrin saw Lille hold out to the end. "Losc was surprised against strongly regrouped teams but did not lose a match in direct confrontations," said the former OL coach. If Lille wins in Lyon, he will have taken a big step towards the title. The advance of Lille and the Lyon-Monaco to come make me say that the planets are well aligned for Lille, which remains my favorite. "
For Jean-Michel Larqué (RMC Sport), the dynamics of Lille do not plead in favor of a coronation.
“The leader has had obvious difficulties for a few games.
Lille are feeling a bit of the wear and tear of power and there is no doubt for the players as for the coach a form of anxiety.
As soon as there are two or three absent, we feel Lille in difficulty.
"Eric Rabesandratana (France Bleu Paris) supports:" Lille is not used to this type of sprint.
If they pass the course of this Lyon-Lille, this Sunday, it will smell good for them but I have the impression that Lyon will do the job… ”
PSG (2nd, 69 points): "Their season may have turned against Saint-Etienne"
“PSG's victory over Saint-Etienne on Sunday is not ordinary,” explains Laure Boulleau (Canal +). Victories like this at the last minute are super unifying. PSG has sometimes gone through but between the qualification against Bayern champion of Europe and this success on Saint-Etienne, a real dynamic is engaged. "
Like the former Parisian player, the vast majority of our interviewees see PSG go to the end. "It has the most qualitative and deepest workforce," adds Jérôme Alonzo (La Chaîne L'Equipe). He has experience of
money time
and is the only one who no longer has a direct confrontation. Finally, there is their
momentum
. Within 45 seconds, their season may have turned against Saint-Etienne. "Elie Baup (BeIN) continues:" Paris is irresistible against the wall. In big deadlines, Mbappé is always there and this is valid for other Parisians. The more at stake, the better they are. "
And of the stake, they will have some, while being still on three tables.
"The opponents of PSG are the schedule and the injuries," said Rolland Courbis (RMC Sport).
PSG-Lens intervenes between the two sets against Manchester City.
Eric Roy (RMC Sport and France Télévisions), also sees a danger in this great European meeting.
“After qualifying for the European Cup, a dynamic exists but remains fragile.
It is enough that they are eliminated by Manchester City for it to be broken.
"
MONACO (3rd, 68 points): "The masked candidate"
It is the team in form of 2021 - 41 points against 34 for Lille and PSG, and 31 for OL.
However, only Laure Bourreau imagines the ASM title possible.
"I think it will be played between PSG and Monaco," she says.
Because Monaco is "a steamroller, an almost flawless team, advance Mickaël Madar (Canal +).
It is also the only team to have twice beaten defending champion PSG.
It would not be completely undeserved if they finished champions… ”
Champion 2011 with Lille, Rio Mavuba also plays Paris but does not exclude ASM.
“It is the masked candidate, who thrives in the same way as Paris, with names a little less high-sounding.
Kovac, the coach, manages to run on all floors.
There is a real state of mind.
"
Although enthusiastic too, Jérôme Alonzo points to the inexperience of certain elements: Disasi, Fofana, Diop or Tchouaméni, all 23 years old or less: “In view of the
money time
, do these young people have all the guarantees?
"
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LYON (4th, 67 points): “Everything to gain”
It is for Lyon that the slope towards the title seems the steepest.
With two direct confrontations against Lille and Monaco, as well as two games against relegation, OL will have to transcend themselves.
And no member of our panel sees them go to the end, except miracle.
“If Lyon were ahead in the standings, the matches against Lille and Monaco would represent a handicap, judge Larqué.
But there are two great opportunities: everything to gain and nothing to lose.
"
OL have not given many guarantees in the last few weeks of a flawless finish.
And the elimination in front of Monaco (2-0) in the Coupe de France on Wednesday, does not plead for it.
“I no longer believe in Lyon for a long time, because of defeats at home in front of Metz (1-0) and Montpellier (2-1), advance Madar.
Same winner against Nantes (2-1) on Sunday, I saw them in difficulty.
"
