Ligue 1: Lyon crumble as battle for Champions League qualification intensifies

The former French champions were overtaken by some unlikely candidates this weekend

Lyon's Clement Grenier, Alexandre Lacazette and Jordan Ferri react after conceding to Marseille (Getty Images)

As PSG secured a thumping 4-1 victory over Troyes on Saturday, it signified that they would maintain their 13-point advantage at the top of Ligue 1.

Even if Les Parisiens lost all their remaining encounters up to the Christmas break, they would still retain their spot at the summit.

PSG's monopoly over the Channel may be assured, but other French powerhouses are being embarrassed by some less familiar names.

Caen and newly promoted Angers have toppled the status quo, and will sit in second and third respectively going into December.

If these two underdogs finish either side of PSG on the podium, their players will have an opportunity to play in the competition whose matches are preceded by that now famous re-hashed Handel composition.

Meanwhile, fourth placed Lyon are currently struggling to assert their authority, and repeat last term’s admirable title charge.

The 4-2 loss at home to Montpellier on Friday night was a particularly catastrophic display from Les Gones.

The hosts buckled early on, as their makeshift defence was unable to contain Montpellier's front line.

Central midfielder and captain Maxime Gonalons has been forced to sit along centre-back Milan Biševac in defence, and his inexperience in that position was palpable; encapsulated by the opening goal as he inadvertently turned a Montpellier cross past his own goalkeeper, Anthony Lopes. As manager Hubert Fournier stated post-match, the score could have been even more bleak were it not for the Portuguese stopper.

Lyon were also offensively blunt. Starlet Nabil Fekir is currently sidelined, while new striking recruit Claudio Beauvue is finding it challenging to adequately support Alexandre Lacazette - leaving too much pressure on the shoulders of last season's goalscorer supreme in Ligue 1. The gifted forward has not reproduced his scintillating form from last season.

The lacklustre showing under the lights at the Stade de Gerland was preceded by defeats against Nice and Gent, and it is imperative that Fournier turns the club's league form around after their elimination from European football was confirmed last week. Midfielder Rachid Ghezzal candidly admitted that Les Gones have “a mental block to overcome”.

Yet matters are even more severe for other prominent clubs who are languishing in the bottom half including Bordeaux and Marseille, while Lille have sunk into the relegation zone.

There has been a notable shift in France this season; but can it last for the whole campaign?

Ligue 1 continues on Tuesday night with a full midweek schedule.