5 Ligue 1 Teams That Have Disappointed This Season

Ligue 1 is rich with a number of talented young sides, many of whom have impressed this season.

Big spenders Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco have unsurprisingly dominated, while the likes of Lille and Saint-Etienne have also performed to an excellent standard.

Newcomers Nantes and Guingamp have provided excitement in effectively ensuring their respective top-flight statuses for next campaign.

But for all those that have excelled in 2013-14, there are plenty of teams that have failed to live up to expectations.

Marseille are in danger of missing out on Europe, Nice are mired in mid-table after finishing in the European places last term and Rennes and Lorient are well adrift of where they should be with the talent at their disposal.

Here I take a look at five teams that have endured disappointing campaigns in 2013-14.

Note: Statistics courtesy of Soccerway

Rennes

It could have gone so much better for Rennes.

The Brittany club appointed Philippe Montanier, who guided Real Sociedad to Champions League last season, to replace Frederic Antonetti in May, and the early signs were good.

Indeed, Rennes lost only three of their first 12 league games to start the season, but since then Montanier's men have struggled for any kind of form.

It has been a campaign of few highlights for Rennes, although the 5-0 win at Toulouse in October and the 3-0 derby success at Nantes last month should live long in the memory for their fans.

Yet Rennes have failed to find any sort of consistency, despite possessing a talented group of players, including attacking midfielders Romain Alessandrini and Jonathan Pitroipa and playmaker Julien Feret.

Rennes have one of the best young French managers in the game and an exciting starting XI, but they are just six points above the relegation zone.

Montanier has built up an excellent reputation from his time at Sociedad; however, if his team cannot turn things around, then he could soon suffer the ignominy of relegation to Ligue 2.

Nice

Christian Lutz/Associated Press

Nice were the surprise package of the 2012-13 Ligue 1 season.

Les Aiglons finished fourth under Claude Puel last term, earning a place in the Europa League.

But the tone for this campaign was set in the qualifying rounds of that competition, when Nice were eliminated by Cypriot side Apollon.

Still, Nice made a strong start to the new Ligue 1 term, winning five of their first 10 league games.

However, a seven-game losing streak from October to December effectively killed off any hopes of a return to European football.

Puel's men have since recovered to stave off relegation fears, yet a mid-table finish is now the best they can hope for.

Nice's form this season has been surprising considering that the Cote d'Azur club were able to keep most of the key players from the previous season.

Defender Renato Civelli did move on to join Bursaspor in the off-season, but Nice did make some quality signings including defensive midfielders Mathieu Bodmer and Nampalys Mendy and attacking midfielder Christian Bruls.

However, despite those additions, Nice have struggled in front of goal, with striker Dario Cvitanich failing to produce the form that saw him score 22 goals last term.

Nice are a club that can look to the future with excitement following the opening of their new Allianz Riviera stadium back in September and, although they have not replicated the heroics of 2012-13, there is no reason why Puel's side can not bounce back next year if the nucleus of the team remains intact.

Marseille

Claude Paris/Associated Press

Marseille made a number of excellent additions prior to the 2013-14 season, but they have failed to deliver any sort of success.

The likes of attacking midfielders Florian Thauvin and Dimitri Payet and defensive midfielders Giannelli Imbula and Mario Lemina arrived at the Stade Velodrome in the summer.

But those additions have failed to inspire Marseille this term, with the Provencal club enduring a dismal season that could yet end without the reward of a place in European competition.

Manager Elie Baup was sacked in early December but, although Marseille have improved under interim coach Jose Anigo, they are seven points adrift of Saint-Etienne, who occupy the Europa League qualification spot.

Marseille have much to consider in the off-season and it remains to be seen whether Anigo will continue in his role or if the club will look elsewhere to find their new boss.

Whatever happens in that respect, Marseille fans can still have reason to be excited by their young squad, which should be able to showcase a significant improvement next term.

Lorient

Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

For a team known for their attractive attacking football, Lorient have not lived up to their potential this season.

Lorient signed striker Vincent Aboubakar prior to the campaign, setting up what looked to be an exciting attacking partnership with Jeremie Aliadiere, who had scored 19 goals in all competitions last campaign.

Aboubakar has delivered the goods, finding the net 12 times, but Aliadiere's goalscoring return has been scant in comparison.

Indeed, the former Arsenal man has a mere four goals to his name in 2013-14, although it is Lorient's defensive failings that have perhaps been more damaging to their form this season.

Christian Gourcuff's men possess the sixth-worst defense in Ligue 1 and, as a result, they are still only eight points above the relegation zone.

It appears unlikely that Lorient will be relegated to the second tier; however, with Gourcuff's contract set to expire at the end of the season, an interesting rebuilding project could soon be underway at the Stade du Moustoir.

Montpellier

Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

Montpellier have undergone a steady decline since winning the Ligue 1 title in 2011-12.

Following the sale of key players such as Olivier Giroud and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Montpellier finished a lowly ninth in what proved to be the final season under Rene Girard, who parted company with the club at the end of last term.

Girard was replaced by former Marseille, Lille and Auxerre boss Jean Fernandez, a move that failed to have the desired effect as he was dismissed in early December after winning only two games during his reign.

The return of Rolland Courbis for a second spell in charge has somewhat improved Montpellier's fortunes, but they still sit a lowly 16th in the standings, just six points above the relegation zone.

Montpellier should have more than enough quality to beat the drop, especially considering the fine form of attacking midfielder Remy Cabella, who has found the net 10 times so far this campaign.

But to be fighting against the drop should be considered unacceptable for a team that was celebrating a stunning maiden title under two years ago.