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So far, Sow good.

Here's a brief summary of the Ligue 1 table as it stands at the season's midpoint. Lille are top with a game in hand and have scored more goals than any other side. This thanks in large part to stiker Moussa Sow, the league's leading scorer with 14 goals in 18 matches. For PSG, Nenê has been almost as prolific, scoring 13 from the left-wing. PSG lie second, a single point behind Lille.

Level with PSG are miserly Rennes - who have scored and conceded far fewer goals than any of their direct rivals - and Claude Puel's resurgent Lyon. Marseille trail Lyon by just two points, suggesting that this season may soon take a familiar turn. Bordeaux complete the triumvirate of recent champions: despite a disastrous start to his time in charge, Jean Tigana has manoeuvred the Girondins into eighth place. Autumn's pace-makers St. Etienne and Brest occupy sixth and seventh respectively.

So close is the title race that a mere five points separate Lille from Montpellier, currently tenth. At the wrong end of the table, Auxerre are victims of their own success, unable to cope with the twin demands of the league and Champions League. Monaco's desperate showing is also a surprise. They're scrapping with Caen and Lens to determine which two teams are relegated alongside hapless Arles-Avignon.

Fixtures resume on January 15th.

Plebs 1 - 0 Sarkozy

It's official: the French are revolting.

As you're no doubt aware, France is in the grip of massive retaliatory strikes against Sarko's plan to raise the standard retirement age to a scandalous 62. But the brave, patriotic men of Ligue 1 choose to soldier on and, inspired by them, I have abandoned my satirical placard and crate of Molotov cocktails, and reached instead for my laptop. As Paris smoulders and the mob swells, I fear for the city's broadband networks. Such desperate times call for brevity so, without further ado, I offer you a thirty second round-up of this weekend's developments in the French top flight.

Rennes suffered their first defeat of the season; at home to Montpellier. Had Dimitri Payet - the league's highest scorer with eight goals in ten matches - converted a penalty during injury time, St. Etienne would have beaten Caen and thus replaced Rennes as leaders.

Despite recent signs of the big three stirring from their summer hangovers, only Marseille secured maximum points. Victory over Lille propels them from seventh to second, level with St. Etienne and Brest who are newly promoted yet haven't conceded since August. Brest's latest triumph: 0-2 versus Bordeaux. The Girondins can take some solace in another abject performance by Lyon, their supposed championship rivals. Claude Puel's side drew with whipping boys Arles-Avignon; a result that will surely accelerate his dismissal.

At the wrong end of the table, Lens and Monaco accompany Arles-Avignon in the relegation zone. Auxerre, evidently deflated by their experience in the Champions League, climbed to 15th thanks to an impressive win over PSG. Although the Parisians now find themselves in sixth place, I'm not alone in thinking that they're the best balanced of the front-runners: PSG's massive fanbase has been daring to contemplate a first championship title since 1994.

Elsewhere, teams nobody cares about lost to teams that almost nobody cares about.

Long live the Republic.