Ligue 1 Season Preview and Projections – 2015-16

Paris Saint German has dominated Ligue 1 during the last few years. Their win marginal has been 12 points, 9 points and 8 points since 2013. Will this dominance continue throughout the 2015-16 season that starts within a week?

Not necessarily, if we believe Accuscore’s simulations that have simulated every Ligue 1 game thousands of times. Based on these numbers by the supercomputer, it would be last season’s runner-up Olympic Lyon that lifts the trophy at the end of the season. Paris Saint German will give tough competition, but it seems that OL have a better squad to manage the higher number of matches, which includes UEFA Champions League games for both teams.

Focus could be a factor, as PSG’s more worthwhile goal is not to win a national league title, but instead to advance past last season’s quarter-final defeat against FC Barcelona in Champions League. Ongoing rumors that PSG’s top striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will make move and leave Paris are also not the best preparation for the defending champions’ season. Even with Angel DiMaria, who helps PSG to three more points over the course of the season, PSG comes out second best.

For positions 3-5, they project to be occupied by the same teams as last year: Marseille, St. Etienne and Monaco. A Year ago, only two points separated these teams, but predictions display a slightly lower number of points for Monaco this season. Monaco has high hopes for better results and even dreams for Champions League, but there has been quite a big turnaround in the squad and it would be difficult to see them to push for a title with so many new players.

In the mid-table Toulouse would make the biggest jump from the relegation struggle to top 10. Simulations seem to favor teams that haven’t made too many changes to lineups as the good cohesion of the squad will give an extra boost for every team. Toulouse is starting the season with essentially the same 11 that finished last season.

For promoted teams this season doesn’t look very promising. Right now, it seems that every team will make just “a French visit” to the highest level of the football competition in France and return to Ligue 2 after the season. One of the most difficult areas to predict is Ajaccio’s home field advantage. They are first time in their history in Ligue 1. All visitors need to take trip to their home island Corsica, where home crowd of around 5,000 fans are fanatically supporting the home team. Another team from Corsica, SC Bastia may well decide the last spot of relegation with their local rivals.

Please see AccuScore’s 2015-16 Ligue 1 projected final table:



See AccuScore’s Ligue 1 Betting Tips