French bemoan lack of goals

Good goalscorers are proving hard to come by in France after a total of just eight in this weekend's ten Ligue 1 ties broke a record lasting 20 years.

Eight goals
Since the French league went professional in 1932 there has never been a lower scoring round of results in the top flight, with the mark eclipsing the previous record of nine goals set in the eighth round of the 1986/87 season. Six top-flight games finished goalless on Saturday, with the eight goals coming in the four other weekend fixtures to leave the French press reflecting on a "miserable show" for all concerned.

Goalscoring incentive
Although Ligue 1 is one of Europe's wealthiest, with Canal+ paying €600m a year in broadcast rights, goals have come at a premium. The French Football Federation responded by offering a €2m prize to the side who wins the most games by two goals or more this season. 'Le Challenge de l'Offensive' has sparked a rise in the average number of goals per game, from 2.13 to 2.2, while round four produced an exceptional tally of 35 goals. However, this weekend's results have revived all of the old concerns about a lack of drama in Ligue 1.

Tense finale
With just nine points separating second-placed Toulouse FC and 12th-placed AJ Auxerre, and only eight between 14th-placed Valenciennes FC and rock-bottom FC Nantes Atlantique, some have attributed the lack of goals to the amount at stake. Pretty much every club in Ligue 1 still has something to play for, with the European places and relegation far from resolved. Only runaway leaders Olympique Lyonnais can plan ahead with any certainty.

Satisfactory result
Many believe money has also tilted the balance in favour of French defences, with good strikers heading abroad young. In contrast, there is a relative glut of quality goalkeepers in Ligue 1. OGC Nice's Hugo Lloris, Nicolas Douchez of Toulouse and Le Mans UC 72's Yohann Pelé have all impressed this season. "The reason for the goal shortage? Cash," said Le Mans coach Frédéric Hantz. "Top-class strikers prefer to go abroad and I understand that."

Telling sign
Another low-scoring record may yet be broken by the end of the season with Valenciennes forward Steve Savidan leading the scorers' table with 13 goals. He could undercut Bernard Zénier's record as the lowest scorer to top the French charts with 18 goals for FC Metz in 1986/87. A sign of the times.