Paris (AFP)

The winter break is over: the French championship restarts Wednesday with an 18th day marked by the return of former Blues coach Raymond Domenech on a bench, Mauricio Pochettino's debut with PSG and a shock with a Mediterranean accent that will be worth dear at the Vélodrome.

- The shock: OM-Montpellier -

Party on the hats of wheel in the Championship, Olympique de Marseille stalled before the end of the year celebrations to finish fifth seven points off the podium (with two games less).

At the foot of the tree, the players of André Villas-Boas have only deposited a small point over the last three matches in December.

A meager record, but identical to that of their next opponent, Montpellier.

It is therefore two teams with tarnished confidence that will compete under the direction of Stéphanie Frappart, Wednesday (9 p.m.) in a Velodrome still deprived of its boiling supporters, the Covid-19 pandemic continuing to empty the sports grounds of all public .

In case of victory, the Montpellierers led by Andy Delort but deprived of Téji Savanier and Stephy Mavididi, tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday, would double OM in the standings.

The Marseillais are also under threat from Monaco, Lens and Angers who, like Montpellier, are in ambush a point behind.

- The player: Mbappé, as in 2020?

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If the coronavirus deprived Kylian Mbappé of the start of the season, the young striker from Paris SG made up for it afterwards by being involved on 16 goals in the Championship (12 goals, 4 assists), the highest total.

The capital club, third with a point behind Lyon and Lille, is therefore counting more than ever on its world champion to make the difference in Saint-Etienne (14th), a city that is doing well for it.

Mbappé has scored three times during his last two visits to Geoffroy-Guichard: the winning goal in February 2019 (1-0) and a brace in December of the same year (4-0).

The trip to Saint-Etienne, where the Parisians have been unbeaten in L1 since 2008, will serve as a baptism for Pochettino, former PSG captain appointed Saturday on the bench of vice-champions of Europe after the ouster of Thomas Tuchel at the end of December.

"Poche" will have to deal with the disparate state of form of its troops, some holders like Neymar (ankle) and Presnel Kimpembe (hamstrings) having dried up on Sunday to treat their injuries.

The Brazilian has resumed the race, according to the medical point published Tuesday by PSG, but will not be ready in time to face the Greens.

Anyway, the pressure is already there for the ex-coach of Tottenham when the co-leaders Lyon and Lille launch 2021 at home, respectively against Lens (7th) and Angers (9th).

- The number: 10,080 -

Wednesday at 18:00 GMT, Raymond Domenech will live in Beaujoire his first match as coach of FC Nantes, 10,080 days after his previous appearance on a bench in the French Championship.

The last time was in Division 1 with Lyon, June 2, 1993 in a 3-2 home defeat against Bordeaux.

The 68-year-old technician therefore puts on the tracksuit again 27 years, 7 months and 4 days later.

The former coach of the France team (2004-2010), officially appointed on Boxing Day, must restore momentum to the Canaries depressed by a 16th place far removed from the initial ambitions of Waldemar Kita, the president hated by part of the Nantes ultras.

The start of the matter promises to be very tough for Domenech who has to face rival Rennes, fourth four away from the podium and who is aiming for a fifth success in a row in L1.

Schedule for the 18th day of Ligue 1 Wednesday:

(19h00) Brest - Nice

Nantes - Rennes

Metz - Bordeaux

Lorient - Monaco

Strasbourg - Nîmes

(9 p.m.) Lyon - Lens

Reims - Dijon

Lille - Angers

Saint-Etienne - Paris SG

Marseilles - Montpellier

Ranking: Pts JGNP bp bc dif

1. Lyon 36 17 10 6 1 34 14 20

2. Lille 36 17 10 6 1 31 12 19

3. Paris SG 35 17 11 2 4 39 10 29

4. Rennes 31 17 9 4 4 26 19 7

5. Marseille 28 15 8 4 3 22 15 7

6. Monaco 27 ​​17 8 3 6 28 25 3

7. Lens 27 16 8 3 5 26 24 2

8. Montpellier 27 17 8 3 6 29 28 1

9. Angers 27 17 8 3 6 23 26 -3

10. Metz 23 17 6 ​​5 6 19 17 2

11. Brest 23 17 7 2 8 28 31 -3

12. Nice 22 16 6 4 6 21 22 -1

13. Bordeaux 22 17 6 ​​4 7 18 20 -2

14. Saint-Etienne 18 17 4 6 7 18 25 -7

15. Reims 17 17 4 5 8 24 28 -4

16. Nantes 15 17 3 6 8 18 30 -12

17. Strasbourg 14 17 4 2 11 22 32 -10

18. Lorient 12 17 3 3 11 17 31 -14

19. Dijon 12 17 2 6 9 12 26 -14

20. Nîmes 12 17 3 3 11 14 34 -20

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