As the season enters the second half of domestic leagues in Europe, certain Champions League teams begin to stand out in their selective championships. Although many titles races are still very close, fans now have a better idea of the standouts.
Here, I go into which team looks in the best shape to come away with the trophy in each major league.
Ligue 1: Paris Saint Germain
Despite being tied on points with Lille and just two points ahead of Lyon, Champions League team PSG look likely to finish on top. With the recent hiring of Mauricio Pochettino, the Parisians look in good hands. Kylian Mbappe has been firing on all cylinders and has additional help in the form of Neymar Jr and Mauro Icardi.
Pochettino’s side holds much more depth than his competitors which will come of use during this long rest of the season. Their new manager should fit nicely with the Frenchmen and seem the favorites to be crowned champions.
Darkhorse team: Lille
Lille have played an impressive season thus far. Led by Burak Yilmaz, they’re currently second in France but tied on points. They have the daunting task of beating PSG to the title but it is certainly within reach. The Parisians are vulnerable as they’re starting out with a new coach mid-season and their backline has looked shaky recently.
If they can continue playing with their high intensity and pace, they can stun the world and take down Paris.