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After a drama-filled month, it’s time to highlight the best performers of Ligue 1 from the month of September.
Here is my Ligue 1 team of September:
Here is my Ligue 1 team of September:
ICMYI: Here is my team of the month thread from August: https://twitter.com/zachlowy/status/1301597197092356096
GK: Steve Mandanda.
Apart from the Le Classique victory, it has been a horrendous month for Marseille, but they’ve somehow managed to get 5 points from 4 games thanks to a heroic Mandanda.
The 35-year-old came up huge vs Lille, PSG, and Metz to keep OM in the top half (barely).
Apart from the Le Classique victory, it has been a horrendous month for Marseille, but they’ve somehow managed to get 5 points from 4 games thanks to a heroic Mandanda.
The 35-year-old came up huge vs Lille, PSG, and Metz to keep OM in the top half (barely).
RB: Yvann Maçon.*
Claude Puel’s Saint-Ètienne are 4th in the league thanks to a young, new-look spine including Maçon, who arrived from third-tier side Dunkerque in January.
He’s a strong 1v1 defender who is constantly improving in attack, as evidenced by his golazo vs. Nantes.
Claude Puel’s Saint-Ètienne are 4th in the league thanks to a young, new-look spine including Maçon, who arrived from third-tier side Dunkerque in January.
He’s a strong 1v1 defender who is constantly improving in attack, as evidenced by his golazo vs. Nantes.
*It’s worth noting that while Maçon is a natural right back, he has only played at left back so far this season.
I included him in the team due in part to the lack of standouts at right back in Ligue 1 this season as well as Maçon’s excellent performances for Les Verts.
I included him in the team due in part to the lack of standouts at right back in Ligue 1 this season as well as Maçon’s excellent performances for Les Verts.
CB: José Fonte.
At 36 years old, José Fonte is still as good as ever, shepherding a young back four of Zeki Çelik, Sven Botman and Domagoj Bradarić that has conceded just two goals so far.
Strong in the air and assured in possession, the captain has led Les Dogues to 2nd place.
At 36 years old, José Fonte is still as good as ever, shepherding a young back four of Zeki Çelik, Sven Botman and Domagoj Bradarić that has conceded just two goals so far.
Strong in the air and assured in possession, the captain has led Les Dogues to 2nd place.
CB: Nayef Aguerd.
Since joining from Dijon for €5m, the Moroccan has been a revelation alongside Damien Da Silva in defense. Reads the game well, composed in possession, great anticipation and a threat in dead-ball scenarios.
Another bargain buy from Rennes SD Florian Maurice.
Since joining from Dijon for €5m, the Moroccan has been a revelation alongside Damien Da Silva in defense. Reads the game well, composed in possession, great anticipation and a threat in dead-ball scenarios.
Another bargain buy from Rennes SD Florian Maurice.
LB: Romain Perraud.
After a difficult first season in the top flight, Perraud has been a sensation in the opening weeks of the campaign, having registered 2 goals and 2 assists so far.
Bombing forward with ease and threatening with long shots, Brest have found themselves a gem.
After a difficult first season in the top flight, Perraud has been a sensation in the opening weeks of the campaign, having registered 2 goals and 2 assists so far.
Bombing forward with ease and threatening with long shots, Brest have found themselves a gem.
DM: Andrés Cubas.
Having joined from Talleres for €2.9m, the diminutive Paraguayan has come out on top in midfield against Eduardo Camavinga and Maxence Caqueret, exhibiting a great tackling ability, a restless stamina & composure under pressure.
Tireless workhorse for Nîmes.
Having joined from Talleres for €2.9m, the diminutive Paraguayan has come out on top in midfield against Eduardo Camavinga and Maxence Caqueret, exhibiting a great tackling ability, a restless stamina & composure under pressure.
Tireless workhorse for Nîmes.
CM: Téji Savanier.
Outside of PSG, you’d be hard-pressed to find a single player in France who combines as much magic and end product as Savanier.
Playing on the tip of Montpellier’s front three, he orchestrates nearly every attack with a superb final ball and lethal vision.
Outside of PSG, you’d be hard-pressed to find a single player in France who combines as much magic and end product as Savanier.
Playing on the tip of Montpellier’s front three, he orchestrates nearly every attack with a superb final ball and lethal vision.
CM: Cesc Fàbregas.
Having failed to impress under Leonardo Jardim or Robert Moreno, Fàbregas is finally impressing as a deep-lying playmaker in Niko Kovač’s 4-3-3.
Constantly breaking the lines, threatening from dead ball situations, and keeping things ticking in possession.
Having failed to impress under Leonardo Jardim or Robert Moreno, Fàbregas is finally impressing as a deep-lying playmaker in Niko Kovač’s 4-3-3.
Constantly breaking the lines, threatening from dead ball situations, and keeping things ticking in possession.
CAM: Gaël Kakuta.
At 29, Kakuta has finally returned home to Lens, where he has thrived in a free role behind Ignatius Ganago and Florian Sotoca, picking out runners on the counterattack, threatening from set-pieces, and maintaining the press’s intensity.
3 goals and 1 assist.
At 29, Kakuta has finally returned home to Lens, where he has thrived in a free role behind Ignatius Ganago and Florian Sotoca, picking out runners on the counterattack, threatening from set-pieces, and maintaining the press’s intensity.
3 goals and 1 assist.
CF: Andy Delort.
Delort has formed an elite strike pair with Gaëtan Laborde, allowing Montpellier to hit teams on the counter and play without wingers.
Between his movement to peel away from his man and his eye for goal, the Algerian is a menace for any defense in France.
Delort has formed an elite strike pair with Gaëtan Laborde, allowing Montpellier to hit teams on the counter and play without wingers.
Between his movement to peel away from his man and his eye for goal, the Algerian is a menace for any defense in France.
CF: Ignatius Ganago.
Having developed in the same academy that built Samuel Eto’o, Ganago failed to impress at Nice, but he’s hit the ground running at Lens with 4 goals so far.
The Cameroonian has a brutal acceleration & is a tireless worker up top, leading Lens to 6th place.
Having developed in the same academy that built Samuel Eto’o, Ganago failed to impress at Nice, but he’s hit the ground running at Lens with 4 goals so far.
The Cameroonian has a brutal acceleration & is a tireless worker up top, leading Lens to 6th place.
My Ligue 1 Team of the Month: September 2020.
