Best bets, odds and winner predictions for the 2023-24 French Ligue 1 season: Free-scoring Rennes set to chase home PSG

When does the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season start?

Friday, August 11

2023-24 Ligue 1 winner odds

2-7 Paris St-Germain, 12 Marseille, 20 Lens, Monaco, 33 Lyon, Lille, 50 Rennes, Nice, 250 bar.

Best bets for the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season

Rennes without PSG
2pts 8-1 bet365, Betfair, Power

Lorient to be relegated
2pts 11-4 Hills

Aaron Rogan's 2023-24 French Ligue 1 winner predictions

Paris St-Germain’s defence of their Ligue 1 title has been clouded by high-profile departures and the era of their ‘big three’ – Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar – is over. 

Messi has already gone to MLS and the club are desperate for Mbappe to leave this summer rather than go on a free transfer next year.

PSG have changed their approach after pipping Lens to the Ligue 1 title by a single point last term. 

The Mbappe drama has overshadowed what has been a good summer of recruitment for the French champions, who have pivoted away from star signings, instead focusing on more reliable options.

Milan Skriniar boosts their defence while Manuel Ugarte is a great midfield screener. Kang-In Lee is a tricky winger with an eye for goal and PSG are set to give Marco Asensio a bigger role than he had at Real Madrid.

The title favourites still have the strongest squad in the league without Mbappe and manager Luis Enrique is good enough to get them over the line despite being a somewhat uninspired appointment.

While PSG are likely to take the title again, below them it is all change in Ligue 1. 

Four sides were relegated last season to reduce the league to 18 teams and this term also sees a fourth Champions League spot up for grabs.

The fight for those places behind PSG could be fierce but an improved Rennes side look best placed to chase home the champions. Their squad is packed with talented young players and, unlike PSG, they are likely to retain their biggest names during this window.

Coach Bruno Genesio has led Rennes to consecutive fourth-placed finishes but their summer investment suggests they are aiming even higher. After splashing out a combined £30m on Ludovic Blas and Enzo Le Fee from Nantes and Lorient, they return stronger.

Blas and Le Fee bring added quality to a talented Rennes midfield and their goal threat bolsters one of Ligue 1’s strongest attacking forces. Under Genesio they have racked up 151 goals in two seasons.

Achieving those results with one of the youngest squads in the division is impressive. The summer signings add solid Ligue 1 experience and, a year on, Rennes look capable of making another leap. 

Rennes look a great price at 8-1 in the ‘without PSG’ market. With their squad maturing as their rivals face some damaging departures, Genesio’s side could well be the best of the rest.

At the bottom, it is worth noting that promoted sides tend to do well in Ligue 1. Last season’s expanded drop zone was an anomaly but, in the four seasons before that, not a single promoted side was relegated. That suggests there could be some value to be found in the relegation battle.

Strasbourg have been linked with good signings and Patrick Vieira is a smart choice as manager. However, if Todd Boehly’s takeover is as tumultuous as it was at Chelsea last season, the 9-1 shots could be in danger.

Lorient are another good candidate at 11-4. The departures of striker Terem Moffi and playmaker Le Fee have severely weakened their attacking unit and a lack of goals could send them down.

Aaron Rogan's predictions for the 2023-24 French Ligue 1 season

Winner
Paris St-Germain

Top-four finish
Rennes, Lille, Marseille

Top goalscorer
Jonathan David

Relegated
Lorient, Clermont

Breakout star
Eliesse Ben Seghir, Monaco

The 18-year-old attacking midfielder scored twice on his debut in December but it was his creativity that really caught the eye last season. The French youngster revels in the number ten role and he can follow Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni as the latest star off the Monaco production line.

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