Paris Saint-Germain has made a slow start to its title defense, but things could soon be looking up if Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues his scoring form away to Rennes on Saturday after impressing for Sweden during the international break. With no genuine early-season pace-setter, the top eight teams are within three points of each other. Here are some things to know about this weekend’s ligue 1 games:
IMPROVING IBRA: Zlatan Ibrahimovic seems to be getting better with age. Although the imposing Swede will be 33 years old next month, but there seems little to stop his scoring spree from continuing. He tops the French league’s scoring charts with five goals — despite playing only two matches. Since joining from AC Milan two years ago, Ibrahimovic has scored 61 league goals in just 70 games, putting him fourth on the list of active strikers in terms of goals scored.
TENSIONS HIGH: Although Marseille’s form has picked up after back-to-back wins, tensions have been running high after coach Marcelo Bielsa’s astonishing outburst against his own club president last week. Furious at how late deals were done as the summer transfer window closed, Bielsa blasted Vincent labrune for reneging on promises and even said the club had signed Brazilian defender Doria behind his back. Doria, who hopes to make his debut away to Evian on Sunday, is playing down the fuss.
GOURCUFF’S RETURN: With lyon struggling badly for form, Yoann Gourcuff’s return from his latest injury setback will be a welcome boost. Gourcuff has been passed fit and is included in the squad to face Monaco on Saturday. After four rounds of matches, lyon is down in 17th place with only three points. The creative midfielder has been beset by a catalogue of injuries since joining lyon from Bordeaux four years ago in a deal worth 26 million euro ($33.6 million). Once hailed as the natural successor to France great Zinedine Zidane, the 28-year-old Gourcuff has been injured 15 times and has never played a full season, missing 20 league games in the last campaign.