Ligue 1 best mid-season XI: Mbappe, Lucas Hernandez and Zaire-Emery all feature
Since 20th December, Ligue 1 has entered its winter break, with top-flight football not returning until mid-January. Get French Football News picks the strongest XI from the opening 17 games of the season.
The Polish international beat Kasper Schmeichel to earn the No.1 jersey this season. Francesco Farioli admitted that it was a difficult choice to make Bulka his first-choice goalkeeper, however, that choice has certainly been validated. Bulka went 78 days without scoring for club and country, having made his Poland debut in November. OGC Nice have the best defence in the league, but when they have been breached, Bulka has been a formidable last line of defence.
There was a certain degree of fan backlash when Hernandez joined the club from Bayern Munich at the end of the season, but he has quietened those critics with consistent, error-free performances. He has played in all but one of PSG’s Ligue 1 games this season, starting 12. Nuno Mendes certainly provides more offensively, but the injury-strewn Portuguese left-back will face a tough task to retake his spot in the starting XI when he makes his long-anticipated return.
Dante ages like a fine wine. The Brazilian veteran suffered an ACL injury at the age of 37, but miraculously, not only did he return, but this season, he is producing some of his finest form. He is as solid as ever at the back, and his partner, Todibo, more than covers Dante’s understandable lack of pace. The Brazilian is, in possession, the most efficient progressor, and his marauding runs forward have become more of a staple of Nice’s play as the season has progressed. Dante has said that he is yet to make a decision on a potential end-of-season retirement. There is certainly no reason to hang up his
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