Thibaut Simon, Media365, published on Friday December 27, 2024 at 11:54 p.m.
After 16 contested days, it is time to take stock in a Ligue 2 championship dominated by Lorient and Paris FC. Behind, there are surprises at the top as well as at the bottom of the ranking.
Ligue 2 is taking a breather during this well-deserved break. If the clubs will be back on the pitches from January 3, let's observe what happened during these first months of competition. While Lorient is in the lead with 33 points, two steps ahead of Paris FC and Dunkirk, the promoted Martigues is in great difficulty. Two victories this season and a recent elimination in the Coupe de France at Bourgoin-Jallieu. In front, we find two clubs not used to these places. Ajaccio (19th) is in great difficulty. The Corsican club, in Ligue 1 two years ago, suffered elimination in the Coupe de France against Herbiers. The president has also confirmed the sale of the club on December 31, 2024. Enough to restart the machine? In place of roadblocker, we find Caen. Bought by the Mbappé clan, Stade Malherbe bet big at the start of the season. Ambitions to return to Ligue 1, one of the largest payrolls and the arrival of executives like M'Vila. Nicolas Seube's gang is in crisis. Recently, the elimination in the Coupe de France at Guingamp further weighed down the morale of the players. What changes can we expect in 2025 in Normandy? The question remains open.
Dunkirk, the chef's surprise
Can we really call it a surprise? On paper, the club saved itself last year thanks to a good second half of the season. Since the takeover of the club, the renewal has been visible on the pitch. Demba Ba and the Turkish consortium have taken control and the club can count on Portuguese coach Luis Castro. The Northerners are present this season with the game on offer. Dunkerque has some experienced players with Courtet and Bammou, the former Nantes player who arrived free this summer. The club can also count on its young people like the 19-year-old Moroccan midfielder, Gessime or even Raghouber (21 years old) on loan from Lille and Bardeli (23 years old) who also passed through Losc. With a very good third place, Dunkirk has experienced only one defeat at home this season against Annecy, the other nice surprise of the year which ranks 5th. Luis Castro's men sought their qualification for the Coupe de France in Auxerre, proof that the football offered in Ligue 2 also works against Ligue 1 teams.
