With the Week 18 action over, OGC Nice are now assured of claiming the honorific title of Autumn Champions. They will end the first half of the Ligue 1 season in top spot, regardless of the result in their Week 19 clash away to Bordeaux on Wednesday.

The win against Dijon (2-1), coupled with the defeat of neighbours Monaco at the hands of Lyon (1-3), assured Nice of occupying the number one spot in French football during the winter break. Symbolic, yes, but it's heart-warming stuff nonetheless.

After turning in the club's most prolific first five months of a season, Lucien Favre's Nice side have a total of 43 points - before the halfway point of the campaign has been reached. This should allow everyone in Nice to warmly celebrate the holidays with big smiles on their faces.

Boasting the division's top defence (13 goals conceded), and its second-most prolific attack (34 goals scored), the Aiglons have fallen only one time so far in this season, in Caen. The rest of their fixtures have seen them claim 13 wins and four draws. Through attacking play, effort and discipline.

J-P. Rivère: 'Keep our feet on the ground'

"Being Autumn Champions is great; it's a great reward for the coach, the staff and the whole club," said Jean-Pierre Rivère. "But this title is well-named as it's only provisional. We can enjoy it for one evening but, we'll get right back to work on Monday and concentrate on Bordeaux, as we're not interested in intangibles…" The president was also measured as he looked ahead to the second half of the season. "The worst thing would be to believe that we have already achieved something and that we have no more work to do. Our sole ambition is to work and make progress. That's only possible if you stay humble, concentrated, determined and with your feet on the ground. Without pressure. Talking about anything else doesn't really interest us; there is a very long way to go this season." 

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