PSG 'crowned' autumn champions
After watching all those around them slip up, Paris Saint-Germain's win in Saint-Etienne ensured that they would end 2011 on top of the table, handing them the symbolic title of autumn champions.
The capital club largely owed their narrow win at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard to another excellent defensive display. Goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu in particular was superb, keeping a third consecutive clean sheet as the visitors ran out 1-0 victors courtesy of a first-half header from Mathieu Bodmer.
The result ensured that PSG go into the winter break three points clear at the top of the table, and even Antoine Kombouaré, who has had to put up with endless speculation as to his own future, appeared determined to enjoy his Christmas.
'Heads held high'
"Being autumn champions does not really mean a great deal but it is also important," said the coach afterwards. "We have shown that we can be consistent and that we can work hard. We can go off on our holidays with our heads held high and with the feeling that we have done a good job."
The title of autumn champions may often be dismissed in France as merely incidental, but Lille sat on top halfway through last season before going on to finish in first place. Indeed, in the last nine seasons since Ligue 1 returned to being a 20-team competition, the autumn champions have gone on to win the title outright on five occasions. At the very least, history suggests that Paris can look forward to a top-three finish.
'Insipid'
It remains to be seen just who their rivals will be in the New Year though, with Montpellier surrendering first place after slumping to a second successive away defeat, going down 4-2 at Evian. René Girard's side led twice through Younès Belhanda (47') and a 13th of the season for the division's top scorer Olivier Giroud (54'), but former Montpellier man Cédric Barbosa (52'), Saber Khlifa (68'), Cédric Cambon (71') and Brice Dja Djédjé (75') all netted for last season's Ligue 2 champions.
For Evian it was a fourth straight home win, but for Girard it was a night to forget as he moaned: "We have not been good enough for three games now. Against Toulouse we fought hard, tonight we were insipid. I didn't like what I saw at all."- http://www.ligue1.com
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