French Ligue 1. 2020/21 — Top Four Contenders
The last couple of years have seen exciting times for French Football. The World Cup winning campaign for the national team in 2020 not only improved the finances of the biggest footballing event in the country, the Ligue 1, but also put a fresh mark on the footballing fraternity.
Times had been tough since France last won the World Cup in 1998 and then came close in 2006. But the year 2018 meant a lot more. The winning squad for Les Blues was one of the youngest ever sides in the history of the game to achieve the accolade. This is where the contribution of the Ligue 1 comes into picture.
Though Paris Saint-Germain have been dominating the French domestic football for almost entirety of the last decade, a majority of the clubs in the first three divisions in France have shown immense growth in relation to youth players coming up the ranks.
Kylian Mbappe might just be the poster-boy of this new French revolution. But top players like Houssem Aouar, Dayot Upamecano and Rayan Cherki are just moving towards like an unstoppable force in becoming the gen-next of the beautiful game.
The Ligue 1 was one of the first competitions alongside the Dutch Eridivisie to suspend the league amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, in almost a century, this is the first time no footballing action has taken place in the French countryside for more than 4 months in a row.
There were talks about Paris Saint-Germain not being awarded the title despite being 12 points clear at the top of the table. But decisions were taken and considering all practicality involved, the Parisiens were awarded their 7th title in the last 8 seasons.
With the Ligue 1 returning to the fore in late August, it’s time to take a look at the top four contenders for the ultimate crown of glory in French football for the upcoming 2020–21 season.
#4 Rennes
Rennes were the surprise package of the 2019–20 season for sure. After finishing 10th in the earlier season, Les Rennais played some really amazing football, especially after the Christmas break. This ensured that the usually mid-table side finished in the top 3 as football was suspended with a few games left to be played.
Their Champions League spot for next season surely has proved to be the game-changer ahead of the next season. Extra funds to their transfer budget kitty coupled with attraction about European football has had them linked to some great French young talents recently.
Martin Terrier has been scooped up from Lyon in a 12 million deal. The 23 year old striker who can play both as a no nonsense forward and a false nine will only add more than 15 goals to Rennes’ goal tally for next season.
Lille could have been another top pick for the 4th spot for next season, but their front-man Victor Osimhein leaving for greener pastures in Italy means that they are going in the next season with a huge gap in their squad in the front three. Ironically, Lille host Rennes in the opening day clash of the 2020–21 season.
Nevertheless, Rennes should be able to continue from where they left last season and push for a Champions League finish next season for sure.
#3 Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon)
The 60,000 capacity Groupama Stadium shall be empty to witness another era for Lyon, as the French club begins its journey with some of the best young personnel at their disposal.
Les Gones had one of their worst campaigns last season, finishing 7th behind the likes of Nice and Reims — clubs who are far less inferior to them on a whole. The French side faced a lot of turbulence in the past one year with 3 managerial changes in the space of less than 8 months.
Injuries and suspensions played their toll on the otherwise great squad and even forced the club to fast-track some of their youth talents to the first team squad. But it has only resulted in better times for the club.
16-year-old Rayan Cherki who made his senior debut this season has been phenomenal enough to seal his first team squad role in a whisker. The squad also boasts some other young talents like their exceptionally rated midfielder Houssem Aouar and goal-machine Moussa Dembele who finished the season with 16 goals, just second on the top-scorer list.
Lyon will be aching to get their season up and running so that they can overturn their bad times in the past year. A third position finish seems very realistic for this extremely talented squad.
Lyon visit Montpellier away from home, in their first game of the season.
#2 Olympique Marseille
Marseille are finally back where they belong. In the top ranks of the Ligue 1 and Europe’s biggest footballing fiesta — the Champions League. Though they finished 2nd behind Paris Saint-Germain with a 12-point gap, they proved their mettle with a solid defensive performance all season-round.
With only 29 goals conceded in the entire season, Marseille might just have the best defensive lines alongside Paris Saint-Germain in the Ligue 1.
Andre Villas-Boas’ side should also be excited about the their front-men Dario Benedetto and Dimitri Payet who were involved in 28 of the club’s 41 goals scored this season in 28 games played.
Les Phoceens have also been involved heavily in the transfer market ahead of the upcoming season. They have already signed Leonardo Balerdi from Dortmund, Alvaro Gonzalez from Villarreal and Pape Gueye from Le Havre. There is no doubt these additions are only going to increase their gap with the rest 18 teams in the league and close the gap with Champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Marseille are probably the only club in France, capable of giving a tough fight to the mighty Paris Saint-Germain and their title ambitions will be on show on the opening day when they host Saint Etienne at home to begin their campaign.
#1 Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
How the fortunes have changed for the club in the capital region of France over the last 2 decades. The gargantuan giants of Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain just sealed their 7th title in the last 8 seasons this year.
When we talk about the quality of the squad, PSG are miles ahead of even their closest title rivals Marseille. This quality of theirs was on show in the last 1 week as the French club sealed two titles in the space of a week — the French Cup against St. Etienne and the Coupe de la Ligue against Lyon.
Attack spear-headed by World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe and Brazilian starlet Neymar has royal company now, as Les Parisiens have signed Argentine Mauro Icardi from Inter Milan on a permanent transfer.
Well, not only their attack, but also their defence led by club captain Thiago Silva accompanied by Marquinhos and Layvin Kurzawa are like a brick wall ahead of Keylor Navas’ goal.
It will be highly against the odds to call out any other team in the first division of France to dethrone Paris Saint-Germain in the 2020–21 season. PSG also have a great chance of becoming European champions this month as their Champions League campaign continues against Atalanta soon.
Paris Saint-Germain start their Ligue 1 2020/21 campaign against Metz at the Parc des Princes in late August.