Lille (AFP)

Second in the championship two points from the lead, Lille only projects a little on the rest of the events when the reception of Bordeaux arrives on Sunday (5 p.m.) for the 14th day of Ligue 1.

Well aware that the good start to the season and the points lost by Paris SG can offer a rare opportunity to dream of a new national coronation, the Northerners are first watching the rearview mirror.

“Being very honest, I look at what is going on behind us. There is a terrible fight with Monaco, Marseille, Montpellier and Lyon. Are we underdogs or not? At the moment we are well placed , but Marseille is going full blast and has late matches, "said Christophe Galtier after the victory against Monaco on Sunday (2-0).

"PSG remains the favorite in my eyes. When I see that he is able to win in Montpellier (3-1, note), which is having a remarkable first part of the season, with a rotation of eight players ... ", he added.

A cautious speech but different from that of the two previous years, where the Dogues coach already considered the Parisians as champions long before the title was awarded.

The pace of the players in the capital was quite different: already second two seasons ago, Lille was then 13 points from a team which had only known victory.

- "Nice football" -

Arrived this summer, the Dutch defender Sven Botman does not hesitate to come forward.

And the trip to Saint-Etienne (1-1) two weeks ago allowed him to announce the color, which he is for the moment the only one in the group to do: "We are playing for the title, our ambition is to compete with PSG and we should have taken the three points, "the Dutchman had assumed in front of the press.

Beyond its good results, the northern club impresses observers with its pleasant game and the richness of its workforce.

"When Lille has the typical team, it is for me one of the most beautiful footballs currently. They only have good players", complimented Jean-Louis Gasset, the Bordeaux coach, on Friday, calling it a "phenomenon "Turkish striker Burak Yilmaz.

Passed by the two clubs, the former international Rio Mavuba also notes this ability to rotate without the level decreasing: "When you see their bench, their rotation with the returning players, it's still players who could be holders in very large clubs, "he said to AFP.

"They are able to maintain this rhythm. After, over a season, a grain of sand can disturb everything. To titillate the PSG, it is possible. They will have a big match in the Europa League in the spring but they are able to keep big players, "he said.

- Manage two competitions -

The European Cup is the big unknown in the coming weeks.

For now, the Europa League has given everyone playing time and confidence.

Despite the multiplication of meetings, Christophe Galtier was able to test other formulas there, notably relaunching the leader Yusuf Yazici with the key to a logical qualification.

The break between now and the round of 16 in mid-February lightens the schedule but will force choices to be made.

And the prospect of cleaver matches against big guns once Europe returns could act as a diversion.

“We will see where we will switch around 11:00 pm on December 23 in Montpellier,” smiled the technician.

Be careful before the winter break, then, but probably with a little idea behind your head.

"Ten years after the last title, the party could be beautiful," said Mavuba.

© 2020 AFP