Ligue 1 Superthread 2018/19

Ligue 1 makes its return next week with an opener featuring last season's Europa League finalists Marseille, taking on the team that won the promotion/relegation play-off, Toulouse, while the traditional Trophees des Champions curtain-raiser between PSG and China takes place tomorrow live from China at 1pm our time.

French football is on a high right now after France's success at the World Cup, and many of that tournament's stars will be in action in the league. Mbappe, Neymar and Cavani all impressed, and PSG will be hoping they carry on their form. Monaco meanwhile have snapped up Aleksandr Golovin who made a great impression for Russia, while keeper Subasic also had a good tournament (aside from the final where in his defence he didn't look 100 per cent). Tunisia's Wahbi Khazri managed 2 goals and 2 assists in his 3 World Cup games and he has signed for Saint-Etienne having impressed at Rennes.

Like most of Europe's top leagues, the title race was not a close one last season but still contained plenty of great matches and saw the emergence of a host of top talent who have since gone on to other leagues: Malcom, Toko Ekambi, Gnagnon, Fabinho, Moutinho and Diop to name a few. There is plenty more talent swimming around and one of the good things about following this league is you get to see the emergence of football's future superstars. Patrick Vieira meanwhile has also taken up the managerial position at Nice, with Lucien Favre heading to Dortmund after an impressive spell. It will be interesting to see how he gets on in his first big European job.

On a more worrying note, it remains unclear what the status is for the TV rights of the league. It had been assumed they would be on BT Sport once again but I've read that BT's contract expired at the end of last season. Also there has been no promotion of games so far - BT aren't scheduled to show PSG vs Monaco tomorrow which is a change from last year - and the rumour is that Eleven Sports may be eyeing this up as their next acquisition to go with Serie A and La Liga. That would make sense given they would then be able to say they have Ronaldo, Messi and now Neymar and Mbappe on their platform. Hopefully we get some clarity on things before next week.

Here is a look at the Ligue 1 title odds at the time of writing:

PSG 1/9
Marseille 12/1
Lyon 12/1
Monaco 14/1
Others 200/1 or more

My take on the teams...




It's no surprise to see PSG heavy favourites. They boast arguably the best attacking force in world football and have added the experience of Buffon in goal. They look strong in most departments but I still feel they need a top LB and DM if they are to have a serious shot at the Champions League, which is their main objective. A lot of interest will be on Tuchel's tactics and whether he can get the best out of the team. Emery was pretty good at keeping things harmonious and it will be interesting if Tuchel has any off-field drama to contend with which could test him. It would be a surprise if they don't win the title with plenty to spare.


Like last season Marseille are in desperate need of a top quality striker. They neglected to bring one in a year ago and it was only for the remarkable goal tally of Thauvin that they were able to stay in the mix for a Champions League place. Mitroglou and Germain weren't good enough to take them to the next level. Recently they've been linked with moves for Giroud and Balotelli and either of them would be a big improvement. Payet was excellent at the turn of the year and if he can continue that form, and their new centre-back signing Caleta-Car can take to the league well, then they'll have a great chance of getting Champions League football.


Lyon are the team that excite me the most ahead of the new season. RB was a position that was a problem area for them but they've rectified that by signing Leo Dubois from Nantes, one of the best RB's in the league. They've also signed Martin Terrier who was one of the most exciting young midfielders in the league last season, and he's played well in pre-season, recently coming off the bench to score the winner in a 3-2 win over Benfica. Lyon have an abundance of young talent with the likes of Ndombele, Aouar, Tousart and Mendy all impressing. They have also snapped up young English forward Reo Griffiths from Spurs who was supposedly wanted by Barcelona and Madrid. Best bit of business Lyon could do though would be holding on to Fekir since it seemed at one stage a formality he would leave. Memphis Depay was exceptional when deployed up top last season and if he can carry on that form then I could see Lyon finishing second.


Once again Leonardo Jardim is being asked to work his magic as Monaco have sold several of his key players. Lemar, Fabinho, Moutinho and Diakhaby have all gone, the first three being significant players in Monaco's title winning season. They have bought pretty well though winning the signature of Golovin, Samuel Grandsir who stood out at Troyes, and snapping up highly-rated teenage striker Willem Geubbels from rivals Lyon. Furthermore, Jean-Eudes Aholou has been signed from Strasbourg to help fill the big void left by Fabinho and Moutinho leaving. Youri Tielemans was a disappointment last season but looked decent for Belgium when he featured at the World Cup. Monaco will be hoping he steps up this season. Rony Lopes had a terrific season in 2017-18 and if Monaco are to be in the Champions League places they'll need him to continue where he left off.


Rennes caused an upset by finishing fifth and securing a Europa League spot but two of their key players have left: striker Wahbi Khazri has gone to Saint-Etienne and defender Joris Gnagnon has moved to Sevilla. To replace them Rennes have signed Theoson Siebatcheu whose 17 goals in Ligue 2 for Reims helped them achieve promotion, while they have also signed defender Damien Da Silva from Caen who had a good season. Another decent signing was Clement Grenier who impressed on loan at Guingamp. If Rennes can get close to their 5th place finish last season they'll have done well.


Gus Poyet did well at Bordeaux last season but it will be a tall order to repeat last season's finish with talisman Malcom having signed for Barcelona. He provided not just goals but assists and unless they can put their funds from the transfer to good use by signing some quality attacking talents, I can see Bordeaux falling off from their finish last season.


Things looked rough for Saint-Etienne last season before the turn of the year but a good transfer window in January helped turn their fortunes. Debuchy and Subotic improved them defensively and Cabella came in on loan from Marseille to add quality up top. Cabella's loan spell has ended which is a blow unless they can secure his signature again. Khazri is a good purchase and should add more goals. I think they can be in the battle for European places.


Vieira has difficult shoes to fill as Favre did a great job with Nice, playing some exciting football and giving youth a chance often. Nice have lost two of their big players in Seri and Plea, while Balotelli has been heavily linked with a move away. Nice will need to find goals and Saint-Maximin, who played well at times, will need to have his best season yet if Nice are to be in contention for Europe. I do like the signing of defender Christophe Herelle who was impressive at Troyes. I'd still like to see them announce a quality attacking player before the window shuts.


With Ranieri no longer manager of Nantes, Miguel Cardoso is the new man at the helm. He comes with a good reputation after helping Portuguese side Rio Ave finish 5th and qualify for the Europa League, apparently with attractive football. Sergio Conceicao was a big hit when he arrived at Nantes from Portugal a few years back so I guess they are hoping for more of the same. Guingamp did nicely last season and I like their signing of Nolan Roux who starred for Metz, despite them finishing bottom. Lille had a horror season under Bielsa but I'm expecting a less anxious one this time under Christophe Galtier. I think Toulouse may struggle with the loss of defender Issa Diop and keeper Alban Lafont to West Ham and Fiorentina respectively. It will be tough for the promoted sides Reims and Nimes to stay up but I'm optimistic they will be competitive.

What team are you looking forward to seeing this season? Can anyone give PSG a run for their money? Any players you're keen to see feature?

I'll say PSG for the title, Lyon and Monaco for the Champions League places (unless Marseille get a quality forward before the window shuts in which case I'll swap them with Monaco), Saint-Etienne and Rennes to round out the European places, and Nimes and Amiens to go down. Neymar for Player of the Year - sticking my neck out with that one - and also expecting big seasons from Ndombele, Depay, Lopes and Payet. (And Fekir if he's around.) As far as breakout seasons, I'm thinking Benjamin Bourigeaud, Ismaila Sarr, and Samuel Grandsir.

Here's to another entertaining season.