The 2019-20 Ligue 1 will kick-off with Paris Saint-Germain looking destined to narrow the gap to Saint-Etienne for the most Ligue 1 titles. However, the title race isn’t the only aspect of the season that football fans and punters will be interested in. Monaco’s temptation with the relegation places, coupled with the eventual departure of Caen from the top-flight means that the unpredictability of the division below the top teams is exciting until the bitter end.
Ligue 1 looks destined to keep their main stars such as Kylian Mbappé, Memphis Depay and Radamel Falcao, which means the market for the top scorer in the division, will also be hotly contested. The long-term future of Neymar still looks unresolved, while the departure of Gianluigi Buffon from the current champions also means that teams such as Lyon, Marseille and Lille may fancy their chances of catching the side from the capital, but which markets should punters be prioritising for the new season?
Ligue 1 Winners
It would seem that there would be no catching PSG again the coming season, as they won their last title by a margin of 16 points and only lost on five occasions throughout the season. They could yet lose Neymar to Barcelona, but the arrivals of Ander Herrera and Pablo Sarabia add a new dynamic to their team that could make them even more difficult to beat. Thomas Tuchel will be expected to deliver at least a third title in a row, while his end of performance review will largely hinge on how the team performed in the Champions League. PSG are currently 1/8 to win their seventh Ligue 1 title in eight years. Even with the disruption with players such as Neymar and Mbappé, you can’t look past PSG for the 2019/2020 Ligue 1 title.
Of the sides that could push PSG the furthest, it would seem Lyon are the most capable. However, the departure of Tanguy Ndombele to Tottenham Hotspur could leave an enormous hole in their midfield that they may struggle to fill. Memphis Depay and Nabil Fekir provide the goal threat for Lyon, but the chances of them delivering a first Ligue 1 title since 2008 look unlikely.
Top Goalscorer
Nobody could get close to Kylian Mbappé’s total of 33 league goals last season. In total, the Frenchman netted three hat-tricks during the season to cement a first golden boot in Ligue 1. Nicolas Pepe’s total of 22 goals was a remarkable achievement for a wide-man, but it’s unlikely that he will be able to sustain that kind of form and better the goals return. The competition for Mbappe could come in the form of his PSG teammate Edinson Cavani, who had previously won the Golden Boots in the two seasons prior.
Radamel Falcao also ended the season with a flourish, and the majority of his 15 league goals came in the second half of the season. The chances of him winning the honour, however, will largely depend on the form of his team. Moussa Dembele also produced a respectable tally of 15 in his debut season in France, and the 22-year-old has the potential to expand on that in 2019-20. However, it is increasingly difficult to look the odds of 2/5 for Mbappe to finish the season with the most goals. With Mbappe only getting better and PSG becoming more dominant, this is certainly a value bet. On top of this, you can find special Betfair bonuses for new customers on, so be sure to take advantage of them!
Relegation
The newly promoted pair of Metz and Brest will be among the favourites to be sent back to the second tier in France. However, both teams aren’t inexperienced when it comes to Ligue 1, and that would be a significant factor if they are to stay up. Metz have bounced back to Ligue 1 at the first chance, while the 2019-20 season will mark the first year since 2013 that Brest have been in the top-flight. Both teams have proven scorers from Ligue 2 to lead their line, Gaetan Charbonnier recording 27 goals last season. Meanwhile, Habib Diallo provided 26 for Metz, but the 24-year-old’s adjustment to Ligue 1 football would be crucial in their chances of staying up.
Monaco was the surprise package last season but for all the wrong reasons. Despite starting the season with World Cup hero Aleksandr Golovin and experienced forward players like Nacer Chadli and Falcao; they were quickly drawn into a relegation battle. In a bizarre season, they went through three managers, before ending the season with the same man they started the season with- Leonard Jardim. The Thierry Henry regime oversaw a record of 14 defeats in 23 fixtures before Jardim ended the season guiding the club to safety.
They will need to start the season better, but it’s unlikely that they will face a fight to stay up. Dijon will also be looking to avoid the drop again, after narrowly avoiding playing Ligue 2 football after victory in the relegation playoff. Most bookmakers seem to think that they will be safe this season as they are priced at 4/1 to be relegated. Bet365 believe the early favourites for the drop are Metz at 15/8 and Brest at 6/4.
