There was always going to be one club who made the most of the World Cup interruption and challenged the elite this season. A few clubs on the fringes of Europe made this calculation in the summer transfer window and, instead of selling players, they held firm.
Lens and Strasbourg were chief among these sides in Ligue 1. Lens managed to keep their talismanic midfielder, Séko Fofana, despite inquiries from across Europe for his signature.
They also secured like-for-like replacements for Cheick Doucouré, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Jonathan Clauss, their three major departures in the window, and the team remains unbeaten after seven games, with the third-best defence in the league.
Strasbourg also gambled, keeping the sought-after pair of Ludovic Ajorque and Alexander Djiku in the hope that they could make the leap up to continental competition.