Ligue 1 Team of the Week 17: Ibrahimovic, Payet and Barbosa All Shine
Welcome to the very first instalment of our Ligue 1 Team of the Week for the 2014-15 season.
Here, we analyse every game and pick out a star XI from the weekend’s fixtures, choosing the best players to form a viable formation. This week, we are emulating the 4-2-3-1 that most Ligue 1 sides use week in, week out.
Alexandre Lacazette may have scored twice to save Lyon’s blushes in Annecy, but that isn’t enough to make this week’s team. That honour goes to Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish talisman.
Disagree with our selections? Hit us up in the comments section below to start the conversation.
GK: Jonathan Ligali, Montpellier HSC
1 of 11
Making only his first start of the season and second ever in Montpellier colours, third-choice goalkeeper Jonathan Ligali was key in the early stages of his side's 4-0 win away at Rennes.
Rolland Courbis’ side took a shock 1-0 lead over the Breton side. Rennes were looking to make it five wins in a row, but before the first half was over, Ligali made crucial saves on Paul-Georges Ntep and twice on Mouhamadou Habib.
In his ninth season at the southern club, this was only Ligali’s second start but his first clean sheet. It was a day to remember for the 23-year-old.
RB: Bryan Dabo, Montpellier HSC
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Playing out of position, as Montpellier seem to have run out of right-backs, Bryan Dabo put in an excellent shift as La Paillade saw off high-flying Rennes.
The former Blackburn Rovers loanee has struggled for games in Ligue 1, so he would have been happy to play anywhere in the side.
Up against the in-form Ntep, it may be more natural for Dabo to go forward—he is naturally a midfielder—but he kept his discipline and was excellent in helping to protect Ligali in the Montpellier net.
CB: Nicolas N'Koulou, Olympique de Marseille
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Marseille may be top of the league in goals scored, but without the performance of Nicolas N’Koulou against Metz, they may not have ended the week back on top of the league.
The Cameroonian defender was imperious as OM beat Metz 2-1 at the Stade Velodrome. He led the defensive line with complete control, and his positioning was immaculate.
Early in the second half, he was unlucky to see the ball take a deflection off his outstretched leg as Metz equalised.
CB: Loic Perrin, Saint-Etienne
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When Loic Perrin plays well, Saint-Etienne usually plays well. On Saturday, as Les Verts made it three wins in a row, their captain was superb.
Christophe Galtier went back to a 4-2-3-1 as they beat Bastia 1-0 at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Perrin was everywhere, making sure he was in right place at the right time as the islanders tried to find their first point in three games.
LB: Jordan Amavi, OGC Nice
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It’s easy to praise defenders when they score a goal because it helps them stand out from the pack; however, on Saturday, not only did Jordan Amavi help Nice to their 3-2 win over Caen, but he was excellent defensively.
Both of Caen’s goals came down their left, so there was nothing Amavi could do to stop the home side from going 2-1 ahead.
It was Amavi that put his side ahead when he was in the right place to turn in the rebound from Eric Bautheac’s free-kick.
Amavi read the game well, was quick to put his foot in when needed and broke up a lot of Caen’s desperate attacks to get back into the game.
CM: Tiemoue Bakayoko, AS Monaco
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Playing a crucial role in the midfield with Jeremy Toulalan in defence and Geoffrey Kondogbia injured, Tiemoue Bakayoko imposed his will on the Toulouse midfield in Monaco’s 2-0 win.
Whenever Le Tefece tried to get forward, Bakayoko was there to intercept the danger. Using his long, never-ending legs and great physique, the young midfielder was everywhere.
Monaco may have struggled to play good football at times, but with Bakayoko in the centre of the park, they were a solid unit for the majority of the game.
CM: Jonas Martin, Montpellier HSC
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In what was meant to be a tough away game for Montpellier, it was Jonas Martin that opened the scoring against Rennes.
The midfielder started the move, breaking from the centre of the park. Then, when the ball went wide, he pushed into the box and converted Anthony Mounier’s cross.
Martin was the midfield cog that kept La Paillade ticking over in their excellent 4-0 victory at the Stade de la Route de Lorient.
RM: Lalaina Nomenjanahary, RC Lens
8 of 11
Although it wasn’t the best of games, the Malagasy midfielder was a constant threat down the wing for RC Lens. He went close with a volley in the first half, but it was late in the game he would make his mark.
With Lens 1-0 down to their bitter rivals Lille with only seconds to go, Nomenjanahary swung in a dangerous looking cross. The LOSC defence had fallen asleep momentarily, and Adamo Coulibaly outjumped everyone to head home the equaliser.
AM: Dimitri Payet, Olympique de Marseille
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Andre-Pierre Gignac may win the plaudits with his 12 goals this season, but Dimitri Payet has been absolutely superb this campaign, and it continued in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Metz at the Stade Velodrome.
Payet would set up OM’s opening goal, crossing for Gignac’s header. He then had a hand in their second before scoring himself to seal the 3-1 victory.
It looks like Payet could add some record numbers this season; so far, he has five goals and seven assists. His best return is 12 goals and 13 assists in his final season for Lille.
LM: Cedric Barbosa, Evian Thonon Gaillard
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Hosting Lyon at home on Sunday, Evian’s Cedric Barbosa probably shouldn’t have even been on the pitch. An illness to Daniel Wass put the 38-year-old in the starting XI, and it turned out to be a key moment.
A fabulous free-kick from the Ligue 1 veteran opened the scoring, and then, once Lyon had pulled back a goal, it was Barbosa who quickly fired back and regained the lead.
Sadly, Barbosa’s efforts weren’t enough to get a point on Sunday. Lyon hit back late to steal all three points, but Barbosa should be proud of his performance.
CF: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paris Saint-Germain
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With every game he plays, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is getting closer and closer to regaining full fitness. Leaving him out of the Lille game was a stroke of genius by Laurent Blanc, as it kept him fresh for the visit of Nantes on Saturday.
It was Ibrahimovic who equalised for PSG in the first half, getting in front of Oswaldo Vizcarrondo to poke in the cross from Lucas Moura.
Then, in the second half, it was the Swede who won PSG the three points. Zlatan’s stunning free-kick flew past Remy Riou in the Nantes net, giving the home side a 2-1 victory.
