While Paris Saint-Germain won the honorary title of autumn champion by finding themselves at the top of Ligue 1 when reaching the winter break, it is important to take stock at mid-season and deliver the eleven type of the championship for the FM editorial team. Fourteen of our journalists voted for what for them was the best team at the start of the season. In the goals, a name stands out with Marcin Bulka (Nice) who won half of the votes. The Polish goalkeeper from OGC Nice was admirable with only 9 goals conceded in 17 matches. Achieving 11 clean sheets, the highest total in the championship and showing himself at ease in the penalty shootout exercise, he broke the screen. Behind him, several goalkeepers were also acclaimed, such as Lucas Chevalier (Lille), Guillaume Restes (Toulouse), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain) and Marco Bizot (Brest).
As for the defense, the hinge has not made a crease since the duo Jean-Clair Todibo (OGC Nice) And Leny Yoro (Lille) were almost unanimous. The first is also one of the architects of Nice’s excellent start to the season, which is the best defense in the championship. The second showed extreme solidity with Lille and confirms in his first full season that he is one of the best French prospects in his position. Only Lensois Facundo Medina and Kevin Danso were also cited. As for the laterals, Jonathan Clauss (Olympic Marseille) narrowly wins on the right just in front of Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain). If his team experienced turbulence, the French international held his place bringing danger into his lane while being quite solid. The Monegasques Vanderson and Wilfried Singo were also cited, as was Kenny Lala (Brest). Left side, Lucas Hernandez (Paris Saint-Germain) comes first narrowly ahead of Melvin Bard (Nice). Perfectly compensating for Nuno Mendes’ injury, the former Bayern Munich player is a great satisfaction in the Parisian transfer window. Deiver Machado (Lens) also received votes.
Warren Zaire-Emery, a phenomenon of precocity
Now head to the midfield where a trio emerges very clearly. As a sentinel, Nabil Bentaleb (Lille) was chosen. The player who arrived this summer from SCO Angers perfectly composed the departure of André Gomes by bringing a different profile to the northern midfield. A nice revenge for a player who performed well last year despite the difficult situation of his club. A notch higher as a torchbearer, it was obvious to put Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain). The young 17-year-old French international talent confirmed his great last season and did even better by becoming a key player in his team. A situation which makes him one of the best players at the start of the season. This distinction, Aleksandr Golovin (AS Monaco) can deserve it too. Regular and spared from injuries, the Russian carries his team and has 5 goals and 2 offerings in 15 Ligue 1 matches. Precious in construction and decisive, he seems to be living his best season in red and white even if he was stupidly excluded against Toulouse last night.
His teammate Youssouf Fofana (AS Monaco) but also Pierre Lees-Melou (Brest), Teddy Teuma (Reims), Benjamin Bourigeaud (Rennes) and Téji Savanier (Montpellier) inherited at least one vote. Finally, as for the attack, the right wing is occupied by the Kosovar Edon Zhegrova (Lille). Hard-hitting and the main danger of the northern team, he was able to make the difference and carry his team to the start of the season. On the other hand, we decided to place Romain Del Castillo (Brest). Participating in the Breton club’s good fifth place with 5 goals and 5 goals in 17 days, he delivered a solid first part of the season. As for the point of the attack, Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain) arrives as the missing link of the team thanks to his 18 goals in 16 matches. A solid record as always for the 2018 World Champion. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Olympique de Marseille), Akor Adams (Montpellier), Junya Ito (Reims), Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain) and Thijs Dallinga (Toulouse) also been cited.
