Season 2008/2009 for French Ligue 1 will start on 9th August at 20h. Then will be played matches of first round and favorite is as also previous years known – Lyon. Still, seven-times-in-a-row champion of France isn’t superior like it used to be especially not like at the beginning of this great series, in season 2001/2002. But, Lyon this year counts on title of champion, too. They showed it by spending also this year the most money for reinforcements. Almost like all other teams together. For 58 million euros were brought: striker Frederic Piquionne from Monaco, defender of Ghana John Mensah from Stade Rennais, Bosnian linkman Miralem Pjanic from Metz, Cameroonian linkman Jean Makoun from Lille, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris from Nice and Brazilian linkman Ederson, also from Nice. Only one star left Lyon this year – Ben Arfa went to Marseille. Exactly Marseille presents the biggest rival which could take Lyon off throne in this season. Marseille was champion of France 8 times but last time 16 years ago. Marseille is also the only French club with title of champion of Europe. For this season Marseille brought a lot of reinforcements: goalkeepers Hilario Munoz from Cassis Carnoux, Rudy Riou from Toulouse and Steve Mandanda from Le Havre, then striker of Cote D’Ivoire Bakary Kone from Nice, linkman Hatem Ben Arfa from Lyon, Brazilian defender Hilton from Lens and Moroccan defender Amine Erbati from Raja Athletic Casablanca.

Monaco, club with 7 titles of champion, already for 8 years doesn’t know what means being a champion and their tendency of success is going down. In this season we shouldn’t expect more that they will get to more than middle of championship list.

Nantes won even 7 titles of champion of France and exactly this club let champion throne to Lyon 7 years ago. This year Nantes got back from second-league society and there are small chances that they could get into fight for the top itself.

Bordeaux was champion of France 5 times and in the last season till the last round they were in the fight for the title. They opened new season with winning French Trophy of champion which they won with victory from white spot over present champion Lyon. Bordeaux saved the team from the least season and they brought a few new players: Argentinean defender Diego Placente from San Lorenzo, striker Yoan Gouffran from Caen and linkman Yoan Gourcuff from Milan. Bordeaux will next to Marseille be the biggest contestant to Lyon in this season.

St. Etienne is club with the biggest number of titles of champion of France (10) but they won the last one 27 years ago. Now it is an average club and in this season they are certainly not a candidate for the highest place. Still, in France you never know who can surprise so this year also one club on which isn’t counted on at the start will certainly play a bigger role on the championship.

Nice is 4-time champion but that was in period 1951-1959. Nice shows variable strength from year to year. They finished last season on 8th place.

From champions in the newer ages, in Ligue 1 are also PSG and Auxerre. Both clubs fought in the last season for stay till the last round. Parisians announce renaissance but that what they already do for years and they are the first on the list of the most hated clubs from bettors. They should be avoided this year too no matter that as reinforcements came linkmen Ludovic Giuly from Roma and Claude Makelele from Chelsea. Except for these two, another linkman was brought Benin Stephane Sessegnon from Le Mans and striker Guillaume Hoarau from Le Havre.

Other clubs are somewhere between 7th and the last place. The closest to the upper part of the championship list could be Lille and Stade Rennais and the closest to the bottom itself Valenciennes and rookies in the league Grenoble and Le Havre.

It is expected that the biggest number of matches will be finished will small number of goals, 3 per match. In the last season Lyon was the most efficient with 74 goals, then Bordeaux with 65 and Marseille with 58. All the others scored less than 50 goals. Of clubs which stayed in Ligue 1 also in this season, Lorient was the most inefficient with 32 goals. However, this club had also a strong defense, with only 35 received goals. Lesser goals received Nancy (30), Nice (30), Lille (32) and St. Etienne (34). Of clubs which stayed in the highest ranks, most goals received Caen (53) and Auxerre (52). But Valenciennes, Auxerre and Toulouse brought big number of reinforcements in this season and probably there will be changes in playing of these teams. Because of that we shouldn’t rush at the beginning of French championship. My recommendation is to play on first halftime X for matches in which play (24 in the last season), Lorient (23), Nancy (21) and Toulouse (21). Good luck.

good job :)