Ligue 1 2021/22 Odds & Season Preview: PSG Heavily Favored with -650 Odds

• Lille was surprise champion last season with new campaign kicking off on Friday
• PSG has signed superstar Sergio Ramos in a summer of major transfer recruitment
• See all odds, best bets, preview and prediction for the France Ligue 1 2021/22 season below

Paris Saint-Germain will be aiming to restore its dominance of French football when the new season in Ligue 1 kicks off on Friday.

Lille was the surprise champion for the first time since 2011 last season; ending a streak of three straight triumphs by PSG.

However, after a summer of spectacular transfer recruitment, the Parisian club is a massive favorite to reclaim the title in the Ligue 1 odds.

France Ligue 1 Winner Odds

Odds as of August 5 at DraftKings

The oddsmakers at DraftKings believe that Lyon – fourth last season – will be its main challenger despite the loss of star player Memphis Depay to Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Lille has lost its title-winning manager, Christophe Galtier, and is rated only third among the prospects this time around.

Monaco Outside Challengers?

Monaco – who may mount a challenge –  and Marseille make up the top five challengers in the betting.

At DraftKings, PSG is priced at -650 to win the championship. Then comes Lyon way out at +1000.

Following that, Lille is rated at +1400, Monaco is simultaneously priced at +1400 with Marseille, furthermore, at +2800.

Certainly, in this market, there is value only in looking beyond PSG.

Monaco coach Niko Kovac is a hit after twice defeating PSG  last season.

And Monaco – third last season – presently looks like promising dark horses this time around.

Coach Niko Kovac is a hit with the supporters after twice defeating PSG in the league last season – although it lost 2-0 against the capital club in the Coupe de France final.

🆕📸🧤

Our a new goalkeeper arrived at the Ooredoo Training Centre this morning! @gigiodonna1 ❤️💙https://t.co/uG3H9tCzIM

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 5, 2021

The team, moreover, has the vastly experienced Cesc Fabregas running things It also has the prolific striker Wissam Ben Yedder.

He hit 20 goals in 37 Ligue 1 appearances last season.

France Ligue 1 Recent Winners

Undoubtedly, PSG’s main focus under coach Mauricio Pochettino will be to deliver the club’s first Champions League triumph.

But there will certainly be big pressure on Pochettino to win the championship after seven victories in the previous nine seasons.

The season has not begun well, however – with a 1-0 defeat by Lille in the annual Trophee Des Champions seasonal curtain-raiser last Sunday.

This will be Pochettino’s first full campaign. And the club has backed him with major additions to his already star-studded squad.

Ramos and Winaldum Arrive for PSG

World Cup-winning center-back Sergio Ramos has arrived from Real Madrid. And another key signing, furthermore, is that of the Dutchman Giorginio Wijnaldum from Liverpool, also on a free transfer.

A further big free capture has been that of the Italian Euro 2020-winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from AC Milan.

🎙️ @LeoDubois15 before #OLSB29: "It's very satisfying to be named captain. I like this kind of challenge and these responsibilities." pic.twitter.com/iD1fGVOWSv

— Olympique Lyonnais 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@OL_English) August 5, 2021

There has also been some big spending. Full-back Achraf Hakimi has been recruited from Inter Milan for $93 million.

Meanwhile, the Portuguese international defender Danilo Pereira was bought from FC Porto for $23 million.

Lyon was last the Ligue1 champion in 2007-08.

Add these impressive signings to a squad that already included superstars such as Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Marco Verrati and Mauro Icardi and it becomes virtually impossible to see beyond a return to the top for PSG next May.

Lyon was last the Ligue1 champion in 2007-08.

➡️ A new training center
➡️ Niko Kovac in charge
➡️ Youngsters full of potential

On the back of their #UCL win today, read up on how @AS_Monaco_EN are taking the next step

— Ligue1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) August 3, 2021

It led the table only briefly in mid-season in 2020-21.

However, the troubles which have afflicted Lille have served to make Lyon the potentially strongest challenger to PSG.

Bosz is New Lyon Coach

A new coach, Peter Bosz, has replaced Rudi Garcia.

Along with the loss of Dutch forward Depay, however, Lyon has also lost influential defender Joachim Andersen to England’s Crystal Palace. There have, moreover, been no headline-grabbing new arrivals.

👏👏👏 to our supporters.

Ready for @Ligue1_ENG 21/22! pic.twitter.com/d9Mes2cZ4B

— Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) August 2, 2021

Lille’s new boss, Jocelyn Gourvennec, earned himself some credit with the fans after last weekend’s defeat of PSG.

But the squad does not look strong enough for a second successive title win.

Lille defender Boubakary Samara has departed for Leicester City.

The team will rely on a 36-year-old main striker, Burak Yilmaz, who hit 16 goals last season.

But defender Boubakary Samara has departed for Leicester City.

WBY 10 © 💪🏼❤️ pic.twitter.com/3iuLKXmJfa

— Wissam Ben Yedder (@WissBenYedder) July 30, 2021

Defender Sven Botman and Portuguese star Renato Sanches may also fall prey to bigger clubs. And Lille will also be balancing Champions League commitments with their bid to retain the title.

Marseille was fifth last season and is looking for stability after the acrimonious departure of coach Andre Vilas-Boas.

Chilean Jorge Sampoli was subsequently appointed. And the loan signing of two Arsenal players – Matteo Guendouzi and William Saliba – could complement the flamboyant skill of Dimitri Payet.

To sum up, however, PSG should run away with this title race. Hence it is best to take a chance on Monaco springing a surprise.

Pick: Monaco +1400