Dijon and Brest Favored to Be Relegated from French Ligue 1
- Last season’s drop-zone playoff survivors already in trouble again
- Nimes struggle while Ligue 2 runners-up make promising start
- Metz, Toulouse and Angers are lifted but Monaco rock bottom
Three weeks into France’s Ligue 1 season and life is already a familiar struggle for relegation favorites Dijon, although it is the supposedly re-stabilized Monaco who sit bottom of the table.
It is a different story for several other teams tipped for the drop with newly-promoted Brest making an encouraging start along with Metz, Toulouse and Amiens – albeit after only two fixtures.
France Ligue 1 Relegation Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Dijon | +160 |
| Brest | +225 |
| Amiens | +350 |
| Nimes | +350 |
| Angers | +450 |
| Toulouse | +450 |
| Nantes | +450 |
| Metz | +550 |
| Racing Strasbourg | +600 |
| Stade Reims | +600 |
Odds taken at 2019/08/22.
Nimes, however, are fulfilling pre-season predictions that they will struggle.
Dijon is favored for relegation at +160 followed by Brest at +225. Amiens and Nimes are then rated at +350 with Angers, Toulouse and Nantes at +450. Metz are +550 to tumble into Ligue 2.
It was a close-run thing for Dijon last season. They only survived by defeating RC Lens in the Ligue 1-Ligue 2 playoff.
Two Straight Defeats
They are currently placed 18th after they lost their opening game 2-1 at home against St Etienne. They were then beaten 1-0 at Toulouse.
Coach Stephane Jobard is in his first role as a number one and the club has been hampered by the loss this summer of influential players Mehdi Abeid and Naim Sliti. It is why they are correctly favored to tumble.
Stéphane Jobard has taken the reins at @DFCO_Officiel ; a former assistant to Olivier Dall'Oglio, he was previously at the club between 2012-18. pic.twitter.com/6Sz7MW6dpB
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) June 21, 2019
Brest were runners-up in Ligue 2 last season. New boss Olivier Dall’Oglio is hailed a forward-thinking coach and the team may surprise a few by staying up.
Against those early odds, Brest are 12th in the table, although this weekend’s home fixture against fifth-placed Reims will be tough.
They have made an encouraging start with a 1-1 draw at home against Toulouse followed by another 1-1 draw at St. Etienne.
Against those early odds, Brest is 12th in the table, although this weekend’s home fixture against fifth-placed Reims will be tough.
Nimes may be more likely to be relegated after losing pivotal midfielder Tevi Savanier to Montpelier and influential winger Denis Bouanga to St Etienne.
They finished ninth last season but are 19th after losing a demanding start 3-0 at Paris Saint-Germain on opening day and then succumbing 2-1 at home against Nice.
Among the analysts’ relegation candidates, it is Metz, Toulouse and Amiens who have enjoyed the best opening spells.
Diallo On Target For Metz
Metz, champions of Ligue 2 last season, are fourth after a 1-1 draw at Strasbourg and 3-0 defeat of Monaco. Striker Habib Diallo has already hit three goals this season.
Ligue 1 – Matchday 2
🇸🇳 Habib Diallo (24, ST) in the Metz 3-0 win against Monaco:⚽️ 2 goals (1 penalty)
🥅 6 shots (4 on target)
🎯 13/15 passes (87% success)
🔓 1 key pass
⚡️ 1/2 dribbles
💨 4/9 aerial duels pic.twitter.com/vDe7ZGM7M2— Football Stats (@Statisticsball) August 17, 2019
New signing Jean-Victor Malengo scored in Toulouse’s opening 1-1 draw with Brest and fellow new arrival Efthymios Koulouris got the winner in the 1-0 win against Dijon. Toulouse is currently seventh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N57hw2TQJY
Amiens began with a 2-1 defeat at Nice but a 1-0 win over Lille hoisted them to ninth place.
Surely, despite their turbulent recent past, the Monagesques have the quality to survive. However, they have been defeated 3-0 by both Lyon and Metz in a tough start.
It was a promising beginning for Angers – placed 11th – with a 3-1 win at Bordeaux. But there was a reality check with a 6-0 hammering at mighty Lyon.
"I think I can help this team a lot." 💪
The first words of @slimaniislam in Red & White 👇 pic.twitter.com/DrGs8pYOTk
— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) August 21, 2019
Nantes are 15th following a difficult start – a goalless draw against Marseille following a 2-1 defeat at Lille.
Monaco is priced at +1200 for the drop. The arrival of experienced players like Cesc Fabregas saved them from relegation on the final day last spring.
Surely, despite their turbulent recent past, the Monegasques have the quality to survive. However, they have been defeated 3-0 by both Lyon and Metz in a tough start.
Best Value Bet: Nimes (+350)
John Dillon is a leading member of the UK's sporting media, having spent three decades as a national newspaper soccer and sports writer, broadcaster and author. He has covered five World Cups, six European Championships and was Chief Sports Writer at the Daily Express for 14 years.
