Over the past decade, France has not often been a good student in the UEFA rankings. Olympique Lyonnais has long accumulated European points in the Champions League, PSG then took over. This season, all the French clubs are in tune. On the UEFA index, France has accumulated a record number of points thanks to the fine European performances of Lille, Paris, Monaco, Lyon, Marseille and Rennes.
What obviously changes compared to previous seasons is obviously the number of clubs still in the race. The six French teams entered in Europe at the start of the season are still there, while the qualifiers for the eliminatory phases are drawing to a close. Obviously, the creation of the Europa Conference League is not for nothing, since it adds the possibilities of playing a continental competition. And this allowed OM to continue to dream of Europe despite their third place in their Europa League group.
However, the French clubs have done admirably during the various group stages, and this is reflected in the number of points garnered. While over the past three years, the average points per club in pools had not exceeded 6.6 (2019/2020), it has reached 10.5 points this season. It has been since 2012-2013 that the teams of France had not exceeded the average of ten points per team.
10.5 – Average points of French clubs in European group stages since 2018/19:
2018/19: 6.2
2019/20: 6.6
2020/21: 62021/22: 10.5
Awakening. pic.twitter.com/VqmBX2tLii
– OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 9, 2021
A nice score, partly explained by the few defeats this year for the residents of Ligue 1. Out of 36 matches played in the group stage, only three were lost by the French clubs: Paris against Manchester City, Lille against Salzburg and Marseille against Galatasaray. Monaco, Lyon and Rennes remain undefeated.
And if our clubs lose little, it’s because they are playing well. Or not too bad, in some cases. On the undefeated side, the lack of defeat is not the only positive element to highlight. In the Europa League, AS Monaco managed to gradually raise their level of play to finish in first place, ahead of Real Sociedad. At the time of their confrontations, the Basque club were fighting for the leading roles in Spain. And in the Europa League Conference, Rennes is sure to finish leader of a group with Tottenham. Whatever the result of the match which remains to be played between Bretons and Londoners, postponed because of cases of Covid among the players of Antonio Conte.
1 – This is the first time that Monaco has completed a group stage in European competition without losing a single match (3 wins, 3 draws). Unbeaten. #STUASM pic.twitter.com/C7NDWX4oBC
– OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 9, 2021
Even if they lost a match, the Lille do not have to be ashamed of their performance. They finish at the top of a group with Salzburg, the reigning Austrian champion, and Sevilla FC, used to European games. Despite a catastrophic playing field at times, the PSG players have been able to avoid defeats. Mauricio Pochettino’s players even managed to afford a prestigious victory at the Parc des Princes against Manchester City (2-0). Marseille, however transferred to the Europa League Conference, was not ridiculous. Showing themselves unable to realize their chances during the matches, the Phocéens could have hoped for better than this record of four draws for a victory and a defeat.
-4.9 – Marseille have the worst negative difference between their goals scored (6) and their Expected Goals (10.9 xG) in the Europa League this season. Regrets. #OMLOK pic.twitter.com/4k6uvePIZD
– OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 9, 2021