PSG hold off the challenge of nouveau-riche Monaco to seal title

Paris Saint-Germain picked up the Ligue 1 title in 2014, their fourth overall, finishing just nine points clear of promoted AS Monaco who ended the campaign in second with an impressive 80 points.

It was Lille who prevailed against a stubborn Saint-Etienne side to claim a place in the Champions League, while Lyon were consigned to the Europa League alongside their Rhone rivals. Marseille, who endured a miserable season finished 6th, but could not qualify for Europe with cup winners Guingamp guaranteed a place in the continental competition.

At the other end, OGC Nice survived by the skin of their teeth, joining former champions Montpellier and Guingamp on 42 points, just two ahead of Sochaux who suffered relegation.

CHANGES

There were plenty of changes heading into the 2013-14 campaign, not least by AS Monaco who announced themselves back into the top-flight with a stunning double coup of James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao. The latter, a goalscoring hot-shot for Atletico Madrid was wanted by all the major sides in Europe, but instead opted for the newly promoted side in the principality.

The pair were joined by Joao Moutinho, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Lacina Traore as Monaco sought to make a splash on the domestic stage, before setting themselves up for a tilt at the Champions League.

Their richer rivals in the north were not to be outdone however, as PSG signed Edinson Cavani from Napoli, as well as Marquinhos from AS Roma.. Lucas Digne and Yohan Cabaye were also brought in to add a domestic feel to the Qatari project as the owners began a serious push at the Champions League trophy.

The only serious deals of note outside the top two were the arrivals of Florian Thauvin and Dimitri Payet from Lille to Marseille, while Saint-Etienne sold star striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang to Borussia Dortmund. Rudi Garcia, double winner with Lille just three years previously moved on to AS Roma at the close season.

SEASON SUMMARY

AS Monaco were pretty much all the rage heading into…

Source link : https://www.footballcritic.com/season-reviews/psg-hold-off-the-challenge-of-nouveau-riche-monaco-to-seal-title-ligue-1-in-13-14/811

Author : [email protected] (Martin Macdonald)

Publish date : 2024-07-28 15:00:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.