There was to be no repeat of last season’s fairy-tale ending, and indeed no repeat of PSG failing to convert their financial dominance into trophies as Carlo Ancelotti led the capital club to their first league title in 21 years with two games to spare.
PSG wrapped up the title with two games to go, beating Marseille to the punch.
L’OM themselves enjoyed a surprisingly good season, qualifying for the Champions League after a year away from the premier competition. They were joined by Lyon who beat high-flying Nice to the final spot.
Champions Montpellier came back down to earth with a bump, only managing 9th place this time around, while Nancy, Troyes and Brest suffered relegation
CHANGES
After the false start they endured in 2011-12, PSG hit the acceleration button on their transfer spending to ensure there were no more slip-ups in their quest to be crowned French champions. Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were the marquee signings from Serie A, and they were joined by Ezequiel Lavezzi, Marco Verratti, Gregory van der Wiel and (in the winter window), Lucas Moura and one David Beckham.
For virtually everybody else in Ligue 1, the transfer window proved to be a selling game. Each of the other major clubs in France cashed in on their talent – headed by Eden Hazard who departed Lille for Champions League winners Chelsea in the close season.
Montpellier were also hit hard, with Rene Girard seeing his championship winning side pulled apart by bigger clubs. Olivier Giroud moved to Arsenal, while club captain Mapou Yanga Mbiwa was also lured to England by Newcastle United.
Marseille sold Cesar Azpilicueta to Chelsea and Stephane Mbia to QPR, with Joey Barton – fresh into a 12-match ban in the Premier League – moving the other way on loan. For L’OM however, they went into the campaign without manager Didier Deschamps, who quit the Stade Velodrome for the national team. He was replaced by Elie Baup.
SEASON SUMMARY
PSG began their quest for the title in stumbling…
Source link : https://www.footballcritic.com/season-reviews/ancelotti-delivers-first-league-title-in-two-decades-for-psg-ligue-1-in-2012-13/810
Author : editors@footballcritic.com (Martin Macdonald)
Publish date : 2024-07-27 15:00:00
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