Ligue 1 returns with RC Lens hosting Olympique Lyon

The break is over. Ligue 1 resumes on Friday 9 October, and matchday 6 opens with RC Lens against Olympique Lyon.

That fixture carries real weight in the table. Olympique Lyon are second with 11 points and a goal difference of +8. RC Lens arrive from a different place in the standings, which makes the three points harder to call than the gap between the two clubs suggests.

The team to catch is Monaco. 13 points, 1 in the division, +5 on goal difference. No defeats worth worrying about yet.

Behind them it is tight. Paris FC hold third on 11, matching Olympique Lyon exactly but with a weaker goal difference of +5. Lille are fourth on 10, Stade Rennais fifth on 10 despite a goal difference of -1, and PSG sit sixth on 8.

Two points separate second from sixth. That is the whole story of the early table.

The scoring chart is just as crowded. Amine Gouiri of Marseille has 4. Kamory Doumbia of Brest has 4. Ferrán Torres of PSG has 4. Lassine Sinayoko of Paris FC has 4. Paris Brunner of Monaco has 4. Five players, five identical totals, no leader.

Before the pause, the last league fixture finished 1-2, Marseille against PSG, on Sunday 20 September.

Now the question is whether Monaco keep setting the pace or whether Olympique Lyon close the gap on the road. Olympique Lyon have the better goal difference of the two. They also have the harder trip.

Friday decides part of it.