From European Brest to “giant-killer” coach: 5 lessons from the beginnings of Ligue 1

It is no longer necessary to present it: with thirteen points in six matches, the Brest is establishing itself as a serious competitor, on par with teams like Inter and Bayer Leverkusen, while several big clubs are now behind it. The revelation of the last Ligue 1 stands out as the most “French” team in the championship, with only ten foreign players in its squad (Lille and Marseille have double that number). Currently eleventh in the standings, it seems unlikely that it will repeat such a feat, but its ambition to reach the elimination stages of the new Champions League remains intact.

At the same time, John Textor is trying to preserve its investment in Lyon, where debts have accumulated in recent years. However, he celebrated the remarkable performance of Botafogo, another Eagle Football Holdings club: in just a few days, the Brazilians triumphed in the Copa Libertadores and Serie A.

Several footballers have recently faced legal problems. Among them, Mason Will John Greenwoodformer Manchester United prodigy, had been accused of domestic violence by his current partner. Loaned to Getafe, he revealed himself in Marseille with a record of eleven goals and two assists, becoming a key element of Roberto De Zerbi's tactical system. Although public opinion has not yet rehabilitated him, he could once again become an important player at a high level, especially at only 23 years old.

The magic of the Coupe de France operates. The FC Espalya National 3 club (the fifth French division), is preparing to face the PSG next January 15. This match promises to be a significant event for this Haute-Loire club, whose logo is inspired by that of its opponent. “Our Eiffel Tower is actually Saint Joseph,” the president said. Indeed, the logo represents a statue overlooking the basilica of Saint-Joseph, located in Espaly-Saint-Marcel, illustrating Saint Joseph holding Jesus in his arms.

Bruno Genesiocoach of Lille, achieved a small feat: he became the third coach in history to defeat the three great figures of the touchline in Europe in the 21st century, namely Pep Guardiola, José Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti. Before him, only Diego Simeone and Jürgen Klopp had achieved this feat.