In recent years, the French Ligue 1 has become a force to reckon with in Europe. It has continued to amaze viewers around the world while nurturing some of the finest talents in the sport.
Last season, two Ligue 1 clubs qualified for the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, with PSG making it through to the final.
It has not been business as usual for perpetual winners, PSG this season in Ligue 1. The Parisiens have struggled with injuries and illnesses to key players for large parts of the season. They are currently in second position, trying to make their way up gradually under new coach, Mauricio Pochettino.
In what has been a very competitive season, with just seven points separating Lille in first position and Monaco in fourth position, the French League presents great options for punters to stake on.
Here are five well-analysed bet options in the French Ligue 1 which punters can take advantage of.
Lyon Over 5.5 Corners
Olympic Lyonnais has made steady progress since the appointment of Rudi Garcia in 2019. Les Gones (The Kids) got as far as the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League last season, defeating Manchester City on the way.
The 7-time Ligue 1 champions are currently in third place on the table. Rudi Garcia favours an attacking style of play and has been able to get his forwards, Memphis Depay, and Toto Ekambi scoring all season.
The dynamic movements of Lyon’s offensive players tend to put opposing defenders on the back-foot, hence, the need for players to make challenges resulting in corners.
Garcia’s men have won an average of 6.7 corners per game so far this season (the most in Ligue 1).
A corner bet on Olympic Lyonnais is almost sure to deliver great returns.
G/G in Montpellier’s Matches
This is a wise option for punters. Montpellier has scored 44 goals in Ligue 1 this season but particularly fascinating has been the rate at which they concede. La Paillade (The Straw) has conceded 47 goals.
The Occitanie based club has recorded 20 G/G matches in 28 games played so far this season. This is largely due to the team’s leaky defence and its ability to convert chances.
While Andy Delort and Gaetan Laborde do a fine job of scoring the goals, the defence is almost guaranteed to ship in goals in equal measure.
For a punter looking to cash out on French Ligue 1 matches, both teams to score is a great option for games involving Montpellier.
Over 2.5 Goals for games involving Monaco
This option is a must-have for smart punters interested in Ligue 1. Monaco is the fourth-placed team on the table. However, they are the second-highest scorers with 56 goals.
Les Monégasques (The Monegasques) play an aggressive style of football under manager, Niko Kovac. They like to get the ball forward quickly and utilise the pace of full-back, Djibril Sidibe on the flank. Monaco also has two of the most prolific forwards in Kevin Volland and Wissam Ben Yedder with 13 goals each. This style of play leaves the team exposed at the back. It is the reason they have conceded the most goals (38) amongst the top-four teams in the division.
21 of the 28 games involving Monaco in the French Ligue 1 have ended with over 2.5 goals scored. That is a whopping 75% of the team’s matches.
Over 1.5 goals for games involving Nantes
Nantes is 19th on the table, just 2 points away from safety. Les Canaris (The Canaries) have struggled for consistency this season having finished comfortably in 13th place last season.
The mainland club has Nigerian international, Moses Simon on their books. However, the winger has failed to replicate the feat that saw him signed permanently from Levante in the summer.
Former manager of France, Raymond Domenech was sacked after eight games without a win.
Antoine Koumbare, a former player of the club has taken charge but fortunes are yet to change at the club.
In 28 Ligue 1 games, Nantes has recorded at least 2 goals in 26 of them. 9 of their matches have ended with a common scoreline of 1-1.
This option is certainly an intelligent option for a punter looking to get good returns in the Ligue 1 market.
Cards bet on Marseille
After coming second in Ligue 1 last season, albeit abridged, Marseille has failed to hit the mark this season. A lot of their problems have stemmed from off-the-pitch issues, with the fans displeased with the running of the club under President, Jacques-Henri Eyraud.
Andre Villas-Boas was suspended in February, owing to transfer disputes before finally being let go. There have also been talks of infighting amongst the players.
It is a no-brainer that the former Champions League champions are currently the most undisciplined team in Ligue 1. They lead on the cards table with 71 yellow cards in 27 matches. Les Olympiens (The Olympians) have averaged 2.63 yellow cards per game in Ligue 1.
For punters with interests in cards bet in the French League, betting on over 4.5 cards for both teams is an incredible option to have.
