Dijon Football Côte d’Or (Dijon FCO) have played five matches so far this season and have only just gotten their first points of the season. A 1-1 draw against Reims Football Féminin (Stade Reims) may seem like a credible one but it took a 82nd minute goal from Élise Bussaglia to prevent an embarrassing loss for Dijon.

Dijon came into this season with high hopes after finishing in eighth place last season but consecutive losses to Montpellier Hérault Sport Club Féminines, Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux, Paris FC and Paris Saint-Germain Féminine have made the start of the season for Dijon a nightmare.

A leaky backline has doomed Dijon to just one point so far

In the last five matches Dijon have played, they have conceded 17 goals (and scored two). The number of goals they have shipped is alarming and although many can point to the calibre of opponents that they have faced as an excuse, last season, Dijon put up a tougher fights against those teams. Dijon have a solid team and should be higher up the table at this point if they had started the season in the same vein as they had last season but right now, it doesn’t look like the case.

The recent draw against Stade Reims may seem like a reprieve for Dijon but again, it took a late goal for them to even be within touching distance of a draw. In the 2018/2019 season, Dijon conceded goals too but what they did to mitigate that damage was pick up draws in unlikely places. It’s only been five matches so there is still plenty of time for Dijon to figure things out but their backline is a big concern and it may take more than the team is capable of to shore up that defense.

Bussaglia is not enough to avoid relegation

Élise Bussaglia has been synonymous with football in France for over a decade and her quality cannot be questioned. However, at 34, she seems to be the main focal point for Dijon. Bussaglia is undoubtedly a player who can make a midfield tick but without support in any other area of the pitch, she cannot win matches on her own.

Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images

Throughout her career, Bussaglia has only scored more than 10 league goals twice with the rest of her career seeing single digit goals. If no one else around her can step up to the plate, Dijon will find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table for a long, long time.

Elsewhere in France...

• Olympique Lyonnais Féminin continue to role teams over as they swept past Paris FC by four goals to nil. The title race is well and truly on and OL are ensuring that they are doing everything possible to keep PSG below them in the table.
• FCGB have slipped down into fourth after defeat to En Avant de Guingamp Féminines this past weekend. Bordeaux have now lost two in a row and cannot seem to stop the rot.
• Olympique de Marseille Féminin bounced back this weekend after losing two in a row with a solid win over FC Metz Feminines. They currently sit in seventh but with two wins under their belt in their return to top flight football, they will be happy with their season so far.