PSG's attacking prowess surges past rivals. Doue and Dembele lead the charge, propelling them to league-best scoring status after a crucial derby triumph.
Matchday 17 of Ligue 1 allowed RC Lens and Paris Saint-Germain to widen the gap with their pursuers. Although it is not the autumn champion, Luis Enrique's team became the best attack in the league this weekend, ahead of Olympique de Marseille.
For the first time in five years, PSG is not the autumn champion since Lens is at the top of the Ligue 1 standings at the end of Matchday 17 and the first half of the season.
Pierre Sage's men won 3-0 at Toulouse in the opening match of Matchday 17 and have one point more than PSG, which won the Parisian derby against Paris FC on Sunday night (2-1).
An important victory for PSG as it allows it to stay in touch with Lens and to create a gap over Marseille (3rd) and Lille (4th), which lost this weekend, respectively at home against Nantes (0-2) and Rennes (0-2). Marseille and Lille are this Monday morning 7 points behind PSG and 8 points behind Lens.
By scoring two goals against Paris FC thanks to Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele, PSG also snatched this weekend the top spot in the best attack standings from Marseille, with 37 goals scored against 36 for Marseille. PSG is now alone at the top of the goal differential with +22, followed by Marseille (+19) and Lens (+18).
By winning 3-1 at Monaco on Saturday, Lyon remains in the good top group and occupies 5th place, with 30 points, like Rennes, which won at Lille and secured its 6th Ligue 1 win in the last 7 matchdays, its only defeat in its recent series having come against... PSG on Dec. 6 (5-0).
Ligue 1 Standings After Matchday 17
- Lens: 40 points (+18)
- PSG: 39 points (+22)
- Marseille: 32 points (+19)
- Lille: 32 points (+11)
- Lyon: 30 points (+8)
- Rennes: 30 points (+5)
The next Ligue 1 matchday will be played in 11 days with a PSG vs. Lille clash on Friday, Jan. 16, starting at 9 p.m. Lens will host Auxerre (17th) the next day, while Marseille will travel to Angers.
Before then, PSG will face Marseille this Thursday in Kuwait as part of the Champions Trophy and then again Paris FC in a week in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France.
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