Marseille to be nearest rivals to PSG, not Monaco

Bookmakers think Ligue 1 will be a two team battle between big spending PSG and even bigger spending Monaco. Defending Champions PSG are the 2/5 (GENERAL) favourites and they have spent big once more bringing in Edinson Cavani from Napoli, Marquinhos from Roma and Lucas Digne from Lille. Out though has gone coach Carlo Ancelotti who has left for Real Madrid while in has come former national team manager Laurent Blanc.

Monaco have spent even more than the 110 million spent by PSG with their spending pushing closer to a 150 million. The big name buys have been Colombian duo Hulk and James Rodriguez who should form a formidable partnership. Joao Moutinho and Jeremy Toulalan meanwhile should form a strong central midfield duo while Ricardo Carvalho will give them leadership and experience at the back. With no distractions of the Champions League Monaco will be focused on the league and at 7/2 (888 SPORT/ladbrokes/unibet) will have their supporters. I think it might take Monaco a while to gel as a unit just like PSG showed last season.

In the betting without the big two the runners up last season Marseille can be backed at 21/10 (paddy Power) while Lyon are a 3/1 (paddy Power) chance and Lille are 4/1 (boylesports/paddy Power/ladbrokes). Of the three I like the look of Marseille who been to keep their key players thanks to qualifying for the Champions League. Last season goalscoring was something of a problem having netted just 42 goals (the second lowest total in the top ten). The club have moved to solve this by signing Dimitri Payet from Lille and attacking midfielder Gianelli Imbula. Also consider a little interest on the 9/2 (ladbrokes) on them to win without PSG as it might take Monaco time to gel as a side while Marseille can hit the ground running.

At the other end of the table bookmakers expect the new boys to struggle with Nantes who were promoted in third as the evens (GENERAL) favourites for the drop while runners-up Guingamp are an 11/10 (betway) chance.

Outside those Ajaccio who just avoid relegation last season are expected to struggle at 11/5 (888 SPORT/unibet) as are Reims (9/4-TOTESPORT/betfred), Evian (23/10-BWIN), Sochaux (5/2-TOTESPORT/betfred) and Bastia (11/4-paddy Power).

Finally let us look at the topscorer market which is an unusual one as it features the top scorer in France last season (Ibrahimovic) taking on the top scorer in Italy (Cavani) and the third highest scorer in Spain (Falcao). Bookmakers make Falcao the 5/2 (betfred/paddy Power) favourite ahead of Zlatan who is a 11/4 (ladbrokes) chance while Cavani is available at 9/2 (ladbrokes). The presence of Zlatan and Cavani on the same team means they might share the goals and as such some value could be had each-way.

The player I like then is Dimitri Payet who grabbed 12 for Lille last season and this time is turning out for Marseille and at 50/1 (ladbrokes) looks a great each-way bet.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Marseille in betting without PSG and Monaco, 21/10 (paddy power)
SILVER: Marseille in betting without PSG, 9/2 (ladbrokes)
BRONZE: Dimitri Payet, EW top goalscorer, 50/1 (ladbrokes)

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09/08/2013     © Frixo 2026