Ligue 1: Midseason High and Lows

Yes, only a catastrophe could prevent PSG from reclaiming the throne, but there’s a lot more to play for.

Meeting Expectations

PSG

The Parisians are exceeding expectations beyond Ligue 1. As I mentioned before, they’re on track to reclaiming the domestic throne, but that’s not their main goal. We all know that their main goal is to finally win the UCL.

They didn’t win Group A thanks to Manchester City, but they did qualify for the Round of 16. They’re going to face Real Madrid, so we’ll see what they’re really made of. Believe it or not, PSG is offering a +1000 price in the soccer odds to win the UCL.

Messi is quickly adapting, but Kylian Mbappe remains the team’s top scorer. That’s why the front office wants him to stay for life, but that’s not going to be an easy negotiation.

Domestically, PSG is also the favorite to win the French Cup. They’re the reigning champions after beating AS Monaco in last season’s finale.

Marseille

Last season, Marseille finished fifth, 23 points behind first place. The front office made an excellent move by signing head coach Jorge Sampaoli in order to take the next step. He’s a certified winner.

Marseille has been in the top four all season long. We’re also talking about the best defensive team. They allowed 0.8 goals per game. Be sure to remember this name, William Saliba. It’s a matter of time for a powerhouse to sign the young center back.

Sampaoli’s team is offering a +5000 to win the title. If you were looking for an underdog to include in your soccer picks, this is it.

Above Expectations

Nice

Nice is one of the teams that has managed to win at least a point against PSG, but that’s not why I included them. I included them because they’re sitting in the top four and own one of the best defensive records. They also allowed less than one goal per game.

Last season, they finished in ninth place. If they can keep up and finish in the top three, the UCL will be waiting for them.

Amine Gouiri, who’s 21 years old, is the team’s top scorer. You should also make sure to remember that name.

Not Meeting Expectations

Lille

Forget about Lille winning back-to-back titles. The reigning champions are struggling to get into the top 10. I honestly don’t know what happened. Well, I do, but that shouldn’t be an excuse.

Lille focused too much on advancing to the UCL Round of 16. They did, but at a really high price. Right now, winning the title is the only way for them to participate in the next edition. They aren’t favorites to eliminate Chelsea in the Round of 16.

Despite having a terrible domestic season, Jonathan David is leading the league’s scoring chart with a comfortable advantage. The Canadian is offering a +250 price in the sportsbook to win the Golden Boot.

AS Monaco

Last season, AS Monaco fought for the title until the very end. They finished third, only five points behind Lille. This season, they’ve struggled a lot to even be in the top 10.

We’re talking about a roster that includes Kevin Volland, Wissam Ben Yedder, Gelson Martins, and Aleksandr Golovin. I expected them to be PSG’s biggest threat, but their best shot at winning some gold is to win the French Cup. Last season, they lost the Grand Finale.

AS Monaco could still finish in the top three, but they need to become a more consistent team. The problem is that the Ligue 1 isn’t a priority anymore, the UEFA Europa League is.