Football player kicking a ball in a stadium.

2024-01-01

Ligue 1 Betting Guide

Football is the most popular sport in the world, with millions of players and even more bettors just waiting for the latest match. Unsurprisingly, a number of football leagues have grown across the globe, particularly in Europe. France’s Ligue 1 is one of the most popular of these, standing next to the likes of Italy’s Serie A and Spain’s La Liga. As such, there are plenty of Ligue 1 betting markets available.

About the French Ligue 1

In 1930, professional football in France became legal. Two years later, in 1932, what is known today as Ligue 1 was born. It was initially known as Division 1 and received its current name in 2002. The league has become synonymous with talented players and breathtaking wins, making it a favourite among bettors. The most notable team in Ligue 1 are Paris Saint-Germain, who have won 10 titles overall, with eight of those coming since 2012. Other historically dominant clubs include Lyon, Marseille, and Saint-Étienne.

How to Bet on Ligue 1

Betting on Ligue 1 is relatively straightforward, and works in a similar way to other sports and football leagues. First, you must pick your betting market: outright, game, or player. To do this, you should have a good understanding of the league and the players and teams involved. You must also understand the basics of football betting. Once you’ve selected the bet you wish to place, enter your wager, and then that amount will be deducted from your overall balance.

Ligue 1 Outright Betting Markets

When you bet ‘outright,’ you are betting on a team to lift the title at the end of a season. This is in comparison to some of the other betting markets, which focus on players or specific events within a match. At the time of writing, the league is dominated by Paris Saint-Germain and has been for a while. This means that outright bets will largely favour them, and the odds might not be as competitive as they are in other markets. Therefore, more value can be found in backing a different team to win Ligue 1, although there is increased likelihood of losing your bet.

Ligue 1 Match Betting Markets

Ligue 1 match betting markets focus on specific games, and what will happen during them. Match events such as the number of goals, cards, corners, and shots all fit under this market, as does predicting the result of a game; either win, lose, or draw. You may find more value in games that are between two closely-matched teams on paper, as there won’t be a clear favourite.

Ligue 1 Player Betting Markets

Ligue 1 player betting markets, as the name implies, are centred on football players. There are a few different kinds of bets you can make here, including match-specific events (such as who will score the most goals) and season-wide betting (such as which player will score the most goals overall). These are essentially expansions of outright and match betting markets that focus on individuals.

Ligue 1 Betting FAQs

Two teams have consistently dominated Ligue 1 title races, albeit in different eras. AS Saint-Étienne and Paris Saint-Germain have both won an impressive 10 titles, making them the most successful teams in the league’s history. With that said, there are a few other teams with recent successes in title races. The 2021 Ligue 1 title race was a tight one – LOSC Lille were crowned champions, with AS Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon all fighting for the top spot.

Ligue 1 clubs are always vying for success in European competition, and there are a few teams best poised to find it. The first is Paris Saint-Germain, of course, who are always favourites to qualify for the Champions League. LOSC Lille are also an outside option thanks to recent successes, as are Lyon. When it comes to betting, you may find increased odds for backing a hunch on a relative outsider, such as Lens, Nice, or Rennes.

Relegation is always a threat for low-scoring teams, and the 2022-2023 season is no exception. In fact, there are a few surprise teams fighting for their place in the league, especially as it prepares to reduce its number to just 18 clubs. Some of the teams most likely to be relegated this season include Angers, Auxerre, Ajaccio, Strasbourg and Brest, among others.

Since its inauguration in 1932, Ligue 1 has seen many teams fight for the title. The two most successful teams in the league are AS Saint-Étienne and Paris Saint-Germain, both of which have won an impressive 10 titles each. AS Saint-Étienne were the first team to accomplish this feat, with Paris Saint-Germain following closely behind. The latter also hold the record for most consecutive seasons at 47 – every year from 1974/75 to 2022/23.

Thanks to its long history, there have been a number of teams relegated multiple times in Ligue 1. One surprising name in the list is AS Saint-Étienne, 10-time league champions. The team were relegated in 2022 after an unfortunate loss against Auxerre. They are expected to make a quick comeback, but their relegation was one of the most shocking in recent history