Just before the final sprint towards the finish line, the 3 teams at the top are moving forward at an unprecedented pace.

After looking at his watch, the referee lifts the whistle to his mouth for the final time. On the bench and on the pitch, the Niçois lift their arms into the air. They have just secured the victory. They continue to take the same amount of joy, like they did in Dijon on Saturday (0-1) and the scenes contained almost an air of déjà-vu. In fact, it is already the Aiglons’ 18th victory in Ligue 1 (with 8 draws and 2 defeats). Another record for the 2016/17 squad. 

 

THE RHYTHM OF CHAMPIONS 

In its history, the Gym has never managed to acquire as many points after 28 matches, even during the glorious decade in the 50s. With ten games to go, Paul Baysse and his teammates are just a short distance away from their points total of last year, which on its own proved to be an exceptional achievement. 

As Canal Football Club revealed on Sunday, the Gym are moving forward at a rate that is often  know as the ‘rhythm of champions”, with a points average of 2.2 points per match. Indeed, every team that has obtained 62 points at this stage of the season, has always gone on to lift the Hexagoal at the end of the season.

 

A HISTORIC TRIO

Although, it was to be written that the 2016/17 season would go on to be the famous “exception to the rule”. Lucien Favre’s team are not, unfortunately, the only team to be moving at such a hellish rhythm: they are neck and neck with PSG and 3 points behind Monaco.

Monaco, Paris and Nice therefore make up a historic trio, given that it is the first time that 3 teams have obtained 62 points after 28 games. And if at times the competitions in Europe have sometimes left those in France behind, this season proves not to be the case, as the two competitors at the top with the Gym are gaining admirers in the Champions League. Even though Monaco stil have work to do in their attempts to get into the top 8 in Europe after they fell 5-3 against Manchester City, PSG seem to already have one foot in the quarter-finals following their victory over Barcelona (4-0). Significant performances, which emphasise the achievements of their ‘competitors’ in Red and Black since the start of this season.

 

THE GAP IS FORMING

The final sprint will allow us to separate the top three and even though the podium is not mathematically confirmed with ten games to go even with such a frenetic rhythm (Lyon, 4th, are 15 points behind with a game in hand), the gap is growing between them and the rest of the chasers.  It will be the top five that will secure their names into the hat*, and the Aiglons currently have a 20 point lead on Marseille in sixth place.

F.H.

* Fifth place will qualify given that the League Cup final will see Paris face Monaco, both of whom are likely to qualify for Europe through their league performance. 6th place will also qualify depending on the team that goes on to win the Coupe de France.

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