Ligue 1 Betting

Ligue 1 Betting – Best Picks, Odds, Predictions

In this guide to Ligue 1 betting, you’ll learn how to bet on Ligue 1. 

Ligue 1 betting is widely available as a result of that quality, as you can wager on this league from the beginning of the season through the final day of each campaign.

We’ll discuss the current state of Ligue 1 on the pitch, how Ligue 1 odds work, and what strategies you should be aware of before placing your first bet on French club soccer. The only thing you won’t be able to get from this guide is insight on the best French food and drink to pair with your Ligue 1 action.

Best Sportsbooks to Bet on Ligue 1

Ligue 1 is one of the most high-profile club soccer leagues on the planet thanks to its presence in a soccer-crazed country like France. Because of its status as a popular league, you’ll be able to find a large selection of sportsbooks that offer Ligue 1 betting. This list of sportsbooks that have Ligue 1 betting odds is a nice place to get started if you’re new to betting on Ligue 1 or if you’re an experienced soccer bettor.

DraftKings

(5/5)

BetMGM

(4.8/5)

Ligue 1 Previous Season Recap

The 2020-2021 Ligue 1 season saw a huge surprise when Paris Saint-Germain didn’t win the title at the end of the season. The perennial Ligue 1 betting favorites fell one point short of the Champions in Lille, who finished the year on 83 points compared to PSG’s 82. Even with PSG breathing down their necks for the late portion of the season, Lille managed to hold their collective nerve en route to their historic title victory.

What was so impressive about Lille was the fact they managed to win the title without nearly the same level of star power as that of Paris Saint-Germain. PSG had the leading goal scorer in Ligue 1 in Kylian Mbappe last season, as the French superstar scored 27 goals in his team’s runner-up campaign. Lille didn’t have a player with more than 16 goals on the season, with Turkish forward Burak Yılmaz leading them with that amount.

Monaco earned the third spot in Ligue 1, which put them in the Champions League qualification rounds ahead of the 2021-2022 Champions League campaign. Monaco was eliminated by Shakhtar Donetsk in the final qualification hurdle of this year’s Champions League campaign. Their 78-point season from the 2020-2021 campaign is still worthy of respect, though.

Outside of the Ligue 1 betting favorites falling short, the relegation battle was the big story in the last Ligue 1 season. Dijon was relegated convincingly last season, managing just 21 points and finishing 20 points away from safety. Nimes was also relegated on 35 points, while Nantes finished with the third worst point total and saved their place in the relegation playoff.

Summer 2021 Transfer Window Recap

The transfer window coming into the 2021-2022 Ligue 1 season was all about Paris Saint-Germain and their efforts to move back to the top of the table. They were always going to be the Ligue 1 betting favorites going into the year, but their acquisition of Lionel Messi only confirmed that position. 

Messi’s transfer to PSG was far from the end of the Parisian giants’ spending heading into this season. They also brought in Sergio Ramos to anchor their back line, as well as Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was the hero for Italy during the decisive penalty shootout against England in Euro 2020. PSG also brought in Georginio Wijnaldum from Liverpool, adding some attacking depth to a team that already had a lot of it.

Outside of PSG, Lyon may have made the best signing coming into this Ligue 1 season. They brought in Xherdan Shaqiri from Liverpool, who had been lost in the shuffle at Anfield prior to being signed away. Whether or not the Shaqiri signing will work out remains to be seen, but it was good for the league to see a club make a signing that would attempt to challenge the Ligue 1 betting favorites in PSG.

Winter 2022 Transfer Window Recap

The most recent transfer window in Ligue 1 paled in comparison to the summer 2021 window, which brought Lionel Messi into the team at Paris Saint-Germain. PSG was quiet during this transfer window, with their only notable move sending Rafinha out to Real Sociedad. But some key storylines did emerge from the most recent transfer window, even if major players did not come into the fold for PSG or other top teams.

This window’s biggest storyline is the fact that Lyon was such an aggressive seller in the transfer market. They sent away several key players, including Xherdan Shaqiri, Islam Slimani, Marcelo, and Bruno Guimarães. Lyon is way behind PSG in the table this season, and it is clear that they are not cut out to win the league this season, and they are heading into a rebuilding phase as evidenced by their transfer maneuvers.

Hatem Ben Arfa joined Lille in this transfer window, which could help the team get better in the remaining portion of this season. Ben Arfa has played at PSG, Marseille, Lyon, and other clubs over the course of his long career. He’s been a prolific Ligue 1 goal scorer and will hope to remain that during the rest of this year at Lille.

Who are Favorites to Win Ligue 1 this Season?

The favorite to win in the Ligue 1 betting odds is Paris Saint-Germain, and there is not a close second. Even before they brought in Messi and the rest of their summer signings, PSG was going to be expected to win Ligue 1 behind the potent attack led by Mbappe and Neymar. With Messi in the fold to go with their existing strike force, the coronation of PSG at the top of Ligue 1 feels inevitable.

Outside of PSG, the next Ligue 1 betting favorite is much murkier to pick out. There are several teams behind PSG that are solid but lack the star power needed to keep up with a team in PSG, The Parisian powerhouse could close this season with over 100 points if they focus enough on league play.

There are a few teams that have a shot to shock PSG this year, though, but only if the Parisians let down and drop some points.

Lille can’t be fully counted out of the title race this season, as they showed last year they’re capable of taking down the championship in spite of what Ligue 1 betting odds say. They still have their top weapon in Yılmaz, but they may not be able to rely on him to deliver at the same clip that he did a season ago. How he performs should dictate the outcome of Lille’s season.

Who is in Danger of Relegation?

The relegation race in Ligue 1 looks like it’s going to be competitive this season, which is bad news for a number of clubs in the French top flight. There are at least six teams that are in serious danger of taking the plunge this season, and Ligue 1 betting odds pertaining to relegation should be competitive right to the end of the campaign.

With a potential season in Ligue 2 possible for all of these teams, these squads will have to play their best to avoid the drop.

The list of six teams that could all be relegated this season are as follows: 

1. St. Étienne
2. Lorient
3. Metz
4. Bordeaux
5. Clermont Foot
6. Troyes

These teams are all among the worst defensive teams in Ligue 1, which doesn’t bode well in a league with so many great attacking players at the top. If these teams want to avoid spending at least one season in a lower division, they’ll need to tighten up their defense and earn points more regularly.

Outright Predictions for Ligue 1 2021/22

There’s no outright Ligue 1 betting tip with a better chance of success than taking Paris Saint-Germain to win the league this season. They built up a double-digit lead in the table by the end of 2021, making it very difficult for the rest of the league to catch up in the second half of the season. The problem with backing PSG to win the league is that there’s next to no value in doing so.

Going into 2022, Ligue 1 betting sites had the presumptive champions at odds of around -5000. At those odds, you’d need to bet $5,000 on PSG to win the title just to win $100. For those of you new to sports betting and Ligue 1 betting, you should know it’s generally not a good idea to risk so much for that kind of payout, as a surprising result could have a huge impact on your bankroll. 

Players to Keep an Eye on in Ligue 1 this Season

It may be completely obvious, but the trio of Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe are the three players most worth watching in Ligue 1 this season. While Ligue 1 betting odds are saying the outcome of this season is virtually a guarantee for PSG, how these three play together this season is still going to be incredibly entertaining to watch. With the trio being willing scorers and passers, they could virtually walk balls into the goal on a regular basis this season.

Also worth keeping an eye on this season in Ligue 1 is Burak Yılmaz of Lille. Yılmaz had a massive hand in Lille defying the Ligue 1 betting odds and winning the title last year, but he isn’t a player on the level of PSG’s top attackers in most seasons. Whether he regresses will have a lot to do with how Lille performs this year and if they’re able to get back into the Champions League for next season.

Finally, Wissam Ben Yedder of Monaco is a player to watch during the 2021-2022 Ligue 1 campaign. Monaco has shown they aren’t quite a major threat to Champions League caliber competition just yet and Ligue 1 betting odds are skeptical of their outlook this season. However, Ben Yedder was the second-leading scorer in Ligue 1 a season ago, and he could help them exceed expectations yet again this year.

How do we Provide our Expert Picks for Ligue 1?

Our Ligue 1 betting picks come from statistical analysis of each team in the league ahead of each match day. We look at as many numbers as possible and factor them into our modeling of each match to project the outcome of every game on the schedule. This allows us to compare our projections to the actual betting odds to alert you to value betting opportunities throughout the season.

We also look closely at scheduling spots that can make a huge difference in the way a team plays in a one-game sample. Teams that have to play in the middle of the week, before or after a weekend game, may not be at full strength or fully focused on one of those matches. We identify those scheduling spots and determine where they create value in the Ligue 1 betting markets.

Beyond these strategic maneuvers from a handicapping perspective, we also have Ligue 1 betting experts providing these picks. 

Best Sportsbooks That Cover Ligue 1 Games

As we mentioned earlier, there are several sportsbooks that offer access to Ligue 1 betting odds. But there are differences in quality among those sportsbooks, as some betting sites are superior to others for Ligue 1 wagering. These sportsbooks in particular are worth checking out when betting on the French top flight.

Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars Sportsbook is an American sportsbook that’s very reliable when it comes to international sports because of where it comes from. Caesars is a rebranded version of William Hill, which has roots in Europe dating back over a century. They have the most experience offering soccer betting of the current crop of American sportsbooks and should be trusted for Ligue 1 betting.

Caesars

(4.9/5)

Draftkings

Another quality sportsbook for Ligue 1 betting is Draftkings. This site offers promotions and odds boosts pertaining to soccer leagues on a regular basis, and Ligue 1 is no exception. If you’re looking for some added value when betting on French club soccer, Draftkings is a site you’ll want to check out early on.

DraftKings

(5/5)

Sportsbook Promo Codes and Best Bonuses for Ligue 1

One of the best Ligue 1 betting promotions in the American sports betting marketplace comes from FanDuel Sportsbook. They’re offering a risk-free bet on your first wager worth up to $1,000 in site credit. To take advantage of this promo, you can place your first FanDuel wager on Ligue 1 or any league, keeping the profits if the bet wins or receiving free bets for the amount you wagered if it loses.

Another strong welcome bonus that can be used on Ligue 1 betting is at BetRivers, which offers a dollar-for-dollar match on your first deposit up to $250. To use this promotion, you simply need to sign up at BetRivers and make your first deposit. You’ll receive an equivalent amount to what you deposited in bonus funds, with a limit of $250 to be claimed.

All You Need to Know about Ligue 1 Betting

There are a lot of intricacies to be aware of when betting on Ligue 1, and we’re here to make sure you understand them before you start wagering. Here, we’ll discuss multiple components to be aware of when doing your Ligue 1 betting, including how the betting odds work and what kinds of bets are the most common.

Ligue 1 Odds and Betting Lines

Ligue 1 betting odds are easy to understand once you know how sports betting odds work. With sports betting odds, you’ll see numbers that begin with a plus sign or a minus sign, which will determine the amount you need to bet to win a specific amount of money. Odds that start with a plus sign signify the amount you’ll win if you bet $100 on them, while odds that start with a minus sign signify the amount you need to bet to win $100 (though you don’t need to bet exactly $100. The payouts will scale proportionately).

For example, you may see Ligue 1 betting odds on a match where one team is at -150 to win, the match is +200 to end in a draw, and the other team is at +500 to win. When betting on the team at -150, a $150 bet would be required to win $100 in profit. Betting on the draw would require a $100 bet to win $200, and a $100 bet on the team at +500 odds would yield $500.

Compare Odds for Ligue 1

From a strategy standpoint, there isn’t a more important thing you can do as a sports bettor than to compare betting odds for each Ligue 1 betting market across multiple sportsbooks. Doing this can help you find where the most favorable odds are for your bets, which will help you to make more money than you’d have otherwise made by not shopping around.

For example, you might see Ligue 1 betting odds on a team to win a match at -110 at one sportsbook and for that same team to win at +110 elsewhere. In this scenario, the -110 odds would require a $110 bet to win $100, while the +110 odds would require a $100 bet to win $110. By betting that team at +110 odds, you’d risk $10 less and potentially win $10 more than if you had bet them at -110 odds.

How do we Generate our Ligue 1 Odds?

We generate our Ligue 1 odds by comparing odds across as many sportsbooks as we possibly can. There are a couple of main reasons why we do this when we present you with our Ligue 1 picks each season.

The first reason is we want to provide you with the most profitable picks we can, while the second reason is we aim to save you the time of having to compare the betting odds for yourself. Our odds-compare tool is second-to-none and will make your betting life easier than ever!

Moneyline Ligue 1 Odds

Moneyline betting may be the most popular form of betting across all of sports betting, including on Ligue 1 matches. The goal of moneyline betting is to determine which team is going to win each match during the Ligue 1 season. Here, you’ll see three options in the moneyline betting market for each game: either team to win the game, or for the match to end in a draw.

For example, you may see moneyline betting odds for an upcoming match where one team is a -200 favorite to win, the other team is a +1000 underdog to win, and the match is at +500 to end in a draw. In that situation, a $200 bet on the favorite would yield $100, a $100 bet on the underdog would yield a $1,000 profit, and a $100 bet on the draw would yield $500 in profit.

Ligue 1 Over/Under Odds

In the over/under betting market, your assignment is to determine how much scoring will happen over the course of a Ligue 1 match. 

Here, you’ll see a number of goals assigned to each game by the sportsbooks you use for your Ligue 1 betting. You’re then able to bet on whether you think the combined score of the two teams in each game will go over or under that number.

How Does Ligue 1 Work?

Ligue 1 consists of 20 teams each season, with each team playing a home and away game against the other 19 teams. This means a total of 38 matches for each team during the Ligue 1 season. Teams receive three points for each match that they win, one point for each match that ends in a draw, and no points for each match that they lose.

At the end of the season, the team with the most points accumulated using the scoring system above wins the Ligue 1 title. They are joined by the second place team in Ligue 1 in the group stage of the Champions League, while the third place finishers are sent to the Champions League qualification rounds. Additionally, the bottom-two teams are relegated to Ligue 2 and replaced by the top-two teams in Ligue 2, while the third-worst team has to defend its place in Ligue 1 in a playoff.

Teams and Venues

There are 20 teams in Ligue 1, all of them looking to break through and win the title each season. Here’s a look at the list of current teams in Ligue 1, as well as the stadiums they call home.

Ligue 1 Trophy

The Ligue 1 trophy is awarded to the team with the highest point total each season. The current trophy is known as “L’Hexagoal” and was designed by Pablo Reinoso. This trophy has been in use since the 2006-2007 season, and features a soccer ball in the middle of a hexagonal plate behind it.

COVID-19 Status

A sad reality in our world today is COVID-19 is something that can have an impact on sporting events. Right now, there aren’t plans to postpone or alter the Ligue 1 season. However, there’s always the possibility that changes as the number of COVID cases around the globe can change at any time.

Interesting Facts about Ligue 1

Ligue 1 was France’s first professional football league. Originally founded in 1930 under the name “National,” and was rebranded into Ligue 1 in 2002. The first matches were played in the 1932-33 season, though due to WWII, play was suspended from 1939-45.

The league currently features all French teams, with the exception being Monaco, who are of course from the nation of Monaco. Parity has been the name of the game throughout the history of Ligue 1, with Saint Étienne’s 10 titles being the most for any one club, even if PSG will look to shatter that mark in the near future.

Only one Ligue 1 side has taken home a Champions League title. That was Marseille in 1992-3, where they defeated AC Milan 1-0. They’ve also produced six runners-up, most recently PSG in 2019-20. 

Ligue 1 Conclusion

Ligue 1 betting is something that can be massively profitable if you know where to look and where to find value in the betting markets. Fortunately for you, our Ligue 1 handicappers have in-depth knowledge of this league and can do that hard work for you to help you become as profitable a French soccer bettor as possible.