The 80th Ligue 1 season could be a key turning point for French football. Few, if any, predicted last year that Montpellier would win the Ligue 1 title. Their remarkable success underlined that the French league is probably the most competitive of Europe’s leading divisions. With Marseille down in tenth and Auxerre relegated to join Monaco in the second tier, there is no room to hide in France.
Paris Saint-Germain, having enjoyed a good season in 2010/11, were tipped to win the league, but eventually floundered. Much of their failure was self-inflicted too, with the decision to sack Antoine Kombouare and replace him with Carlo Ancelotti mid-season proving fateful.
Montpellier have been weakened this summer, having sold Olivier Giroud to Arsenal. The top scorer in the league last season, he has been replaced by Argentine forward Emiliano Herrera from Union Espanola. Younes Belhanda, another star of last season, will stay, but the Parisians are stocking up on big names, having signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Ezequiel Lavezzi. In many ways, the only thing more surprising than La Pallaide winning the battle for the title last season would be if they could do so again this time around.
Elsewhere, Lille have been busy strengthening after receiving a French transfer record fee for Eden Hazard. He joined Chelsea in the summer’s big move, but coming in the other direction is Salomon Kalou, adding experience and a goalscoring threat to a team which sometimes lacked enough players who could chip in. They have also signed Marvin Martin from Sochaux and the creative playmaker could prove an inspired signing.
Of France’s other big names, Lyon continue to plough money into their new stadium rather than the first team, whilst Marseille’s significant summer change has been in the dugout, with Didier Deschamps departing to take up the French national team job and being replaced by Elie Baup. Bordeaux will hope to pick up where they left off after a superb end to last season and Rennes, Saint-Etienne and Toulouse will all aim to push for a Europa League place once again.
At the other end of the table, Reims are back in the top flight for the first time in several decades and are joined by Troyes and Bastia, who have enjoyed successive promotions. Brest, Ajaccio, Nice and Valenciennes may face another battle against relegation, while Sochaux and Lorient will hope for a more comfortable campaign than last time around. Evian and Nancy would happily take a repeat of their mid-table finishes.
There have been five different champions in France in each of the last five seasons, underlining its status as the most competitive and least predictable league in Europe. That could be under threat this season with PSG looking unstoppable on paper. Though at least if they win the league that would make it a sixth different champion in six years – but there is no doubt neutrals would rather the championship remain at the Stade de la Mosson for a second year in a row.
AJ Ajaccio
Ajaccio survived last season, just, and this season they will likely battle against the drop once again. Alex Dupont’s side have brought in a couple of youngsters this summer as well as Sigamary Diarra, whom they will hope adds goals to an attack which was far from prolific last year. Their top scorer, Ilan, has left for Corsican rivals Bastia, whilst the defence barely looks stronger than last time around.
One thing that could change that is the arrival of Dupont, who takes over from Olivier Pantaloni. His pragmatic nature could help Ajaccio to compete better this year, but equally, a lack of ambition going forward may be a dangerous ploy in such a competitive league, where it is probable that a number of teams will once again go into the final weeks of the season battling relegation.
Johan Cavalli and Frederic Sammaritano will be vital for Dupont this season, their creativity and goals from midfield helped the club survive a first season back in Ligue 1. Ajaccio were also the most indisciplined team in Ligue 1 last year, with nine red cards, and they look a prime candidate for the drop this time.
Key arrivals: Sigamary Diarra (Lorient); Ricardo Faty (Aris); Brandon Deville (Anderlecht); Oumar Sissoko (Metz)
Key departures: Leyti N’Diaye (Marseille loan return); Ilan (Bastia)
Prediction: 20th
Bastia
Bastia were runaway Ligue 2 champions in the end last season, to make it two league titles on the bounce and they come into this campaign optimistic of securing their status in the top flight. Much pressure will be on Toifilou Maoulida, who was the side’s top scorer last season after Sadio Diallo left for Rennes. David Suarez has also left for Arles, but the capture of Ilan means Bastia should not struggle for goals.
The newcomers also have a decent defence, though it was not reinforced over the summer and so there may be doubts over how they will do at this level. Sambou Yatabare and Julien Palmieri are Bastia’s only signings of note so far, though they have also been linked with Sebastien Squillaci. Frederic Hantz’ men have enough experience in their team, with ex-Monaco star Jerome Rothen, to survive in Ligue 1.
Key arrivals: Julien Palmieri (Istres); Sambou Yatabare (Monaco)
Key departures: Sadio Diallo (Stade Rennais); Mathieu Robail (Nimes)
Prediction: 14th
Bordeaux
Last year was one of two halves for the 2009 champions. Mediocre for much of the first half of the campaign, they burst into life after January. The signing of Ludovic Obraniak was particularly important, his arrival in the winter window heralding the club’s improvement. Bordeaux finished the season with a flourish, winning six games in a row to seal a Europa League spot.
Francis Gillot will be hoping his team can pick up where they left off last time and he does have much the same squad. With Obraniak and Jaroslav Plasil providing the ammunition for Yoan Gouffran and Cheick Diabate, Bordeaux have the firepower to cause problems for Ligue 1’s best defences. The team from the south west are well balanced, have a good manager in Gillot, and should be set for another Europa League push this season.
Key arrivals: None
Key departures: Salif Sane (Nancy); Grzegorz Krychowiak (Reims)
Prediction: 7th
Brest
Brest struggled last year, particularly after losing striker Nolan Roux to Lille mid-season. In the end, they were almost relegated as a lack of firepower showed and many neutrals probably would not have minded seeing them go down instead of Caen or Auxerre. In the end, Corentin Martins did well to drag Brest to safety after being brought in to replace Alex Dupont. He has since been replaced though, by Landry Chauvin, who will look to change the team’s style and make them more expansive after arriving from Nantes.
The club will hope this season that the signings of Bernard Mendy and Ismael Traore will solidify a defence which has lost the calming figure of Steve Elana in goal. Whether former Caen goalkeeper Alexis Sanchez will have more luck keeping Brest up than he did with his former club is open to doubt. Last year Brest survived thanks to their defence, with the worst attack in the league, and having lost Issam Jemaa it is hard to see where the goals will come from. Brest have made a number of changes though. Geoffrey Dernis is an intelligent signing from champions Montpellier, whilst Abdoulwhaid Sissoko becomes the latest member of his family to move to Ligue 1 from Udinese. Charlison Benschop arrives from AZ, but it is hard to see him filling the shoes vacated by Roux back in January.
Key arrivals: Ismael Traore (Sedan); Charlison Benschop (AZ); Bernard Mendy (Odense); Geoffrey Dernis (Montpellier); Abdoulwhaid Sissoko (Udinese); Kamel Chafni (Auxerre); Alexis Thebaux (Caen)
Key departures: Jonathan Zebina (Toulouse); Issam Jemaa (Auxerre); Steve Elana (Lille)
Prediction: 17th
Evian
It was quite a first season in the top flight for Evian, who showed no fear having climbed rapidly through the French league pyramid and boasted one of the most prolific attacks in the division, spearheaded by Yannick Sagbo. Cedric Barbosa was also superb in the club’s first season in Ligue 1 and Pablo Correa will be hoping his team will be similarly impressive this year. He may also hope that he does not suffer the same fate as Bernard Casoni, fired midway through last season with the team sitting 11th, a decision which ranked up there with that of PSG to dispense with the services of Kombouare as one of the strangest of 2011/12.
The signing of Zouhier Dhaouadi is a risk as the Tunisian is untested at this level, whilst the versatile Daniel Wass has signed permanently from Benfica after his impressive loan spell last year. Having kept together the bulk of the squad, Christian Poulsen and Thomas Kahlenberg aside, Evian have the personnel to survive for another year. It may be more of a test second time around and up to half the teams in the league can be sucked into the relegation battle – Evian could be in that group. There are enough teams who are worse than them though to ensure they survive with some breathing space.
Key arrivals: Daniel Wass (Benfica); Zouhier Dhaouadi (Club Africain); Djakaridja Kone (Dinamo Bucharest); Mickael Salamone (PSG)
Key departures: Christian Poulsen; Jerome Leroy; Thomas Kahlenberg (Wolfsburg)
Prediction: 13th
Lille
Lille move into a new stadium this season without the man who has done so much to turn them into a French powerhouse in recent years. Eden Hazard finally left this summer, but Les Dogues have not spent too much time contemplating their loss. Marvin Martin is an interesting choice as a replacement. He has the same ability to pick a pass and create, though is perhaps less of a goalscorer than Hazard. Martin may also lack some of the quick dribbling of the Belgian, but he should still be a good signing for coach Rudi Garcia.
The big problem Lille face is who will score the goals? Salomon Kalou’s purchase was surely with that partly in mind, the Ivorian adept at chipping in with his fair share. But the trio who were so clinical in front of goal in the 2011 title winning side, Gervinho, Moussa Sow and Hazard, are now all gone. Mathieu Debuchy may also depart, with Djibril Sidibe signed from Troyes to play at right back. Significant pressure will be on Nolan Roux to continue an impressive debut last time around and Lille will need him at his best to make the most of their potential this year.
Key arrivals: Marvin Martin (Sochaux); Salomon Kalou (Chelsea); Steve Elana (Brest); Viktor Klonaridis (AEK Athens); Djibril Sidibe (Troyes)
Key departures: Eden Hazard (Chelsea); Joe Cole (Liverpool – loan return)
Prediction: 2nd
Lorient
It was not the greatest of seasons for Christian Gourcuff’s men, no doubt hurt by the loss of Morgan Amalfitano and Kevin Gameiro, as they finished fourth from bottom. This year Lorient have not been raided quite so brutally, though Joel Campbell’s return from his loan spell is a blow.
This promises to be another long season for Gourcuff’s side, though the talented young goalscoring midfielder Alain Traore should add thrust and power from midfield after his move from Auxerre. A sensibly well-run team who tend to lose their best players to the top sides, Lorient will struggle again to impose themselves on the top half of the table, but are better than their league position last year indicated. They should be another team surviving in the final weeks of the campaign.
Key arrivals: Alain Traore (Auxerre)
Key departures: Sigamary Diarra (Ajaccio); Jeremie Janot (St Etienne); Joel Campbell (Arsenal – loan return)
Prediction: 15th
Lyon
It has been another summer of austerity at the Stade Gerland as Remi Garde’s side prepare for their first season not competing in the Champions League this millennium. Garde did a decent job last season in the circumstances, winning the Coupe de France in spite of the lack of investment with financial issues affecting the seven times champions. He is helped by the fact that there are some extremely talented youngsters coming through, not least Maxime Gonalons, Clement Grenier and Alexandre Lacazette, who will only get better.
Ederson has been released, whilst defenders Jonathan Mensah and Timothee Kolodzieczak have both departed too. And defence will be Garde’s main concern, as this area has been Les Gones main weakness in recent seasons. Cris is not the player he once was and the young Samuel Umtiti may not quite be ready for this level. With all their money going into a new stadium, this promises to be another season when a title challenge may be beyond Lyon. But with Montpellier and Lille weakened by their stars leaving, Garde’s side’s superior potency in front of goal could see them make a Champions League return anyway.
Key arrivals: None
Key departures: Ederson (released); Jonathan Mensah (released); Timothee Kolodzieczak (Nice)
Prediction: 3rd
Marseille
Everyone at Marseille will be raring to go this season to forget the horrors of the last campaign. A truly shocking year was compounded by a dreadful mid-season run of defeats. Marseille did reach the last eight of the Champions League and won the Coupe de la Ligue, but there is much for Didier Deschamps’ successor, Elie Baup, to do ahead of the new season.
Boardroom tension has gone now that Deschamps has been forced out of the club, with his feud with sporting director Jose Anigo a problem politically last time around. The only significant signing has been Florian Raspentino, but Baup inherits a talented squad that should do much, much better. Key for him will be getting the best out of the creative talents of Morgan Amalfitano and Mathieu Valbuena, though much could rest on whether Marseille can fend off suitors for Loic Remy, while Cesar Azpilicueta appears set to depart. With the basis of a solid defence, a good defensive midfielder in Alou Diarra and the always useful Ayew brothers, Marseille have all the tools necessary to mount a challenge to qualify for the Europa League.
Key arrivals: Florian Raspentino (Nantes)
Key departures: Djimi Traore; Brandao (both released)
Prediction: 5th
Montpellier
It is not often that a team who, completely unfancied for the league title, manage to win it and then are once again not expected to challenge the following season. Neutrals will hope Montpellier do challenge, but it will be a huge ask for Rene Girard’s side. They have lost Olivier Giroud to Arsenal, and so much will depend on how Emiliano Herrera, Gaetan Charbonnier and Anthony Mounier settle in. Can they replace his goals? The signs in pre-season are that they have the potential, but Giroud’s shoes are big ones to fill.
At least so far Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is still at La Pallaide, so important he was last year in defence, whilst Younes Belhanda has pledged to stay. The capture of Daniel Congre at right-back is another intelligent one. It means Montpellier do retain the bulk of the team which shocked France last year, with some intriguing additions. It may be a bit much for them to compete with PSG again, but they will prove a tough nut to crack for their Ligue 1 rivals.
Key arrivals: Emiliano Herrera (Union Espanola); Anthony Mounier (Nice); Daniel Congre (Toulouse); Gaetan Charbonnier (Angers)
Key departures: Olivier Giroud (Arsenal); Geoffrey Dernis (Brest)
Prediction: 4th
Nancy
Jean Fernandez guided Nancy to safety with room to spare at the end of last season and has been busy recruiting ahead of the new campaign. He has lost Bakaye Traore to AC Milan, a big blow, though the flip side of his loss is that he only played in half the club’s games last year. Other than that, Nancy have not lost any other significant players and with a collection of thrifty signings have the tools to finish near mid-table once more.
Particularly with one of the most experienced minds guiding them through their Ligue 1 campaign and with plenty of teams of similar or lesser quality, Nancy should once again find themselves safe at the season’s end.
Key arrivals: Yohan Mollo (Granada); Salif Sane (Bordeaux); Abdou Rahman Dampha (Neuchatel Xamax); Thomas Ayasse (Arles); Thomas Mangani (Monaco)
Key departures: Bakaye Traore (AC Milan), Samba Diakite (Queens Park Rangers), Marama Vahirua (released)
Prediction: 12th
Nice
Nice have done well to avoid relegation in the last two seasons, but this year could be their toughest scrap for survival yet. The loss of reliable defender Francois Clerc and of Anthony Mounier, their key attacking threat, will hit Nice hard. The south coast side have hired former Lyon coach Claude Puel, though that is a decision fraught with risk. Puel has a reputation, but he was the man who led Lyon out of their run of seven successive titles and a sometimes risk averse style of play may do little to help them find the net more often. It is not inconceivable that if Nice are in relegation trouble, faith in Puel could be lost easily.
Nice have brought into Timothee Kolodzieczak to add quality to the defence, but he is only young and it is a big ask for the former Lyon man to replace Clerc. Expect the team to lean heavily on the prodigiously talented Luciano Monzon, while Dario Cvitanich may be a smart signing from Ajax up front.
Key arrivals: Timothee Kolodzieczak (Lyon); Eric Bautheac (Dijon); Romain Genevois (Tours); Joris Delle (Metz)
Key departures: Francois Clerc (Saint-Etienne); Elliot Grandin (Blackpool); Anthony Mounier (Montpellier)
Prediction: 19th
Paris Saint-Germain
The Parisians have made an emphatic statement with the signings of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Ezequiel Lavezzi. Carlo Ancelotti will have a host of fresh tactical questions to ponder now, but needs to be more decisive than last year, when he chopped and changed and eventually cost his team the title.
Silva will add some much needed solidity to what was a leaky defence last season and should work well with compatriot Alex or Mamadou Sakho at the back. The most intriguing question though is about the frontline. Ibrahimovic will be a starter, but it is a case of then trying to accommodate Lavezzi, Jeremy Menez, Javier Pastore and Nene. Given that Ancelotti spent most of last season playing with three more defensively-minded midfielders, two may miss out in the starting line-up. Managing that will be a difficult task, but whoever plays it is hard to imagine anyone being able to live with PSG over 38 games.
Key arrivals: Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli); Zlatan Ibrahimovic; Thiago Silva (both AC Milan); Marco Verratti (Pescara)
Key departures: Ceara (released); Mickael Salamone (Evian)
Prediction: 1st
Reims
Statistically, Reims are the team with the highest historical win percentage in the top flight, even though the last time they played at this level was in the 1970s. If they still hold that status at the end of this season they will have done superbly well (or a number of teams spectacularly badly). But Reims have a talented squad, and the goalscoring form of Cedric Faure and Kamel Ghilas will be critical at this level.
The loss of Romain Amalfitano, brother of Marseille winger Morgan, is a blow, but Reims have invested in a number of new faces over the summer and that squad depth should help to make them competitive in Ligue 1. Hubert Fournier’s side will also rely on the experience of Mickael Tacalfred in the centre of defence along with the reliable Anthony Weber. Their attacking prowess could guide them near to mid-table.
Key arrivals: Nicolas Fauverge (Sedan); Kamel Ghilas (Hull City, loan); Julien Toudic (Lens); Mohamed Fofana (Toulouse); Grzegorz Krychowiak (Bordeaux); Antoine Devaux (Toulouse)
Key departures: Romain Amalfitano (Newcastle United)
Prediction: 11th
Rennes
It was another solid season for Federico Antonetti’s side, who seem to have held onto star man Yann M’Vila for another season. The midfielder will be pivotal to his team’s hopes of European qualification, though he could easily be disappointed at failing to move to a bigger team and Rennes will have to be wary of that.
Some intelligent signings have been made, with Sadio Diallo and Romain Alessandrini full of goals. There is a reason Rennes are known as the team in France with the best academy and with their collection of youthful exuberance and Antonetti’s fiercely competitive edge, the club can look forward to another season in the top half of Ligue 1, though European football may just elude them.
Key arrivals: Sadio Diallo (Bastia); Romain Alessandrini (Clermont)
Key departures: Stephane Dalmat (Nîmes); Youseff Hadji (Al-Arabi)
Prediction: 8th
Saint-Etienne
Last year was another good one for Christophe Galtier’s side, who were unlucky to miss out on Europe after finishing seventh to round off an impressive campaign. They were even in contention for the Champions League at one point, but ultimately could not keep up with a resurgent Bordeaux in the battle for the Europa League.
It has been another summer of shrewd activity in the transfer market for Les Verts, who beat a host of ‘bigger’ teams to sign talented midfielder Romain Hamouma. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is one of the league’s most talented strikers and in addition to the collection of promising youngsters at Galtier’s disposal, Saint-Etienne can break into the top six.
Key arrivals: Jeremie Janot (Lorient); Francois Clerc (Nice); Renaut Cohade (Valenciennes); Romain Hamouma (Caen)
Key departures: Laurent Battles (released); Gelson Fernandes (Sporting Lisbon); Paulao (Real Betis); Florent Sinama Pongolle (Sporting Lisbon – loan return)
Prediction: 6th
Sochaux
Sochaux endured a nightmare season last time around, with Mehmed Bazdarevic almost taking the team into Ligue 2 just a year after qualifying for Europe. Eric Hely came in and steadied the ship, steering Sochaux clear of danger. But it was an almighty scare and having lost playmaker Marvin Martin they will be tested this season.
Cedric Kante has joined from Panathinaikos to shore up a leaky defence, while Simon Pouplin will hope to put injury behind him to resurrect his career between the sticks. And in Thierry Doubai Sochaux have an energetic midfielder who can add some more solidity to the squad. With the departure of Modibo Maiga, Hely has a tricky task to replace the goals he and Martin offered, but his men should at least stay clear of the relegation battle this time.
Key arrivals: Thierry Doubai (Udinese); Simon Pouplin (Freiburg); Cedric Kante (Panathinaikos); Roy Contout (Auxerre); Ishmael Yartey (Benfica)
Key departures: Jeremy Brechet (released); Marvin Martin (Lille); Steven Mouyokolo (Wolverhampton Wanderers); Modibo Maiga (West Ham)
Prediction: 10th
Toulouse
Toulouse are a dangerous team on their day and last season enjoyed another solid campaign. They invested well, though Umut Bulut did not quite have the impact expected and he has now returned to Turkey. Toulouse are hardly the most prolific of scorers and a solid defence will be what they rely on again this year. The loss of Daniel Congre is a blow in that department, though Jonathan Zebina should help to fill the void he has left.
One big question mark is whether Toulouse can hold onto defensive midfielder Etienne Capoue. If he leaves, then Toulouse will have a significant hole to fill and with few other notable signings, mid-table beckons.
Key arrivals: Jonathan Zebina (Brest); Olivier Blondel (Troyes)
Key departures: Umut Bulut (Galatasaray – loan); Mohamed Fofana (Reims); Daniel Congre (Montpellier)
Prediction: 9th
Troyes
It was a superb second half to last season for Troyes, who surged into promotion contention and then lost just one of their last ten games to make it into Ligue 1. But it is always dangerous when a side are promoted on the back of a good run of form, rather than dominating throughout a season, as consistency is the key to then survive at a higher level. Whether Troyes can find that or not is a key question and they have lost the experienced Olivier Blondel, not to mention the highly talented Djibril Sidibe.
Whether this talented but youthful team can survive in Ligue 1 is unclear, particularly as they were hardly the most prolific in Ligue 2. The experienced Benjamin Nivet could go some way to solving those issues up front, but with a small budget and having spent relatively little this summer, it could be a long season for Troyes, who should put up a good fight against relegation – whether it will be good enough is doubtful.
Key arrivals: Benjamin Nivet (Caen); Georges Gope-Fenepej (Magenta); Granddi Ngoyi (PSG), Stephanie Darbion (Xanthi)
Key departures: Olivier Blondel (Toulouse); Djibril Sidibe (Lille)
Prediction: 18th
Valenciennes
Last year was a solid one for Valenciennes, who have been relatively quiet over the summer. They have lost Renaud Cohade, who was one of their best players last season and his goals and assists will not be easy to replace. Gael Danic and Vincent Aboubakar will be under pressure to find the net for Les Atheniens.
Boss Daniel Sanchez will be confident in his team’s ability to stay in the division for another year, but goals are likely to be harder to come by this season and his team could well find themselves closer to the trap door into Ligue 2 at the end. Solid home form, which Valenciennes so often display, is likely to be their main weapon.
Key arrivals: Loris Nery (Saint-Etienne)
Key departures: Romain Cohade (Saint-Etienne); Christopher Nzay Mfuyi (Servette); Carlos Sanchez Moreno (released)
Prediction: 16th
