PSG Shortens to -1400 to Win Ligue 1; Marseille’s Odds Plummet to 100-1

• Paris Saint-Germain have won six of the last seven Ligue 1 titles
• Over the course of those six championship campaigns, PSG have lost just 21 league games
• Through the likes of Edinson Cavani, Kylian Mbappé or former striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paris has had the top scorer in Ligue 1 in each of the last four seasons

With six titles over the last seven years, Paris Saint-Germain are very clearly the cream of the crop in France, boasting one of the highest payrolls in Europe. With the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Edinson Cavani and Neymar pencilled into the starting lineup most weeks, they have a frontline that can stack up against any at home or abroad, and their Ligue 1 odds certainly reflect that.

2019-20 Ligue 1 Odds

*Odds taken on 09/17/19. 

The Neymar Enigma

Brazilian superstar Neymar arrived in the French capital with much fanfare in the summer of 2017, coming over from Barcelona at a cost of around $245 million. When he has played, he has been a true difference maker for Paris, scoring 53 goals and adding 27 assists in 59 appearances for the defending champions.

And with the Cavani and Mbappe out injured, the Brazilian captain stepped to the forefront last weekend, scoring this spectacular winner that took Paris two points clear at the top of the table with a 1-0 win.

🔥 NEYMAR.
🔥 IS.
🔥 BACK.

Unbelievable goal from @neymarjr breaks the deadlock in stoppage time. #PSGRSCA pic.twitter.com/A8T25e3mIO

— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) September 14, 2019

But having spent much of the summer angling for a move away from the Parc des Princes, with Barcelona once again firmly in his sights, fans can hardly be blamed for wondering how much their talisman wants to remain in the French capital.

However, the transfer window has since shut, which means that Neymar is stuck in France at least until the window reopens on New Year’s Day. But as Neymar showed on Saturday, in his first league appearance with PSG this season, he can certainly be the sort of difference maker that can spearhead a title-winning campaign.

Chinks in the Armor?

For the likes of Marseille and Lyon, two French clubs that will be hoping to take full advantage of any PSG weaknesses, there are some signs of hope that this season might not end like the majority of the last seven have.

In the last two years, PSG didn’t suffer its first defeat until at least December. This season, Paris began its campaign with an away defeat at Rennes, echoing its slow start of three years ago when it lost to Monaco on Matchday 3, or its opening-day defeat at home to Lorient in 2011-12.

In both those seasons Paris ended up runners-up for the title.

Fresh Face

For Marseille in particular, a new arrival has brought early-season hope that André Villas-Boas’s team can return to contention. While the injury-enforced layoff for World Cup winner Florian Thauvin, out until the new year with an ankle injury would have dealt a blow to any championship aspirations, the arrival of Dario Bendetto is certainly making up for it.

The former Boca Juniors striker now has four goals in five games for his new club, including two in a dramatic 4-3 come-from-behind victory away to Monaco last weekend.

¿Te lo perdiste? La zurda no.

Aquí el doblete del @PipaBenedetto 🇦🇷💙 en Mónaco. #ASMOM 🎥 @Dugout pic.twitter.com/QRbTwBnBE9

— Olympique de Marseille 🇨🇱🇦🇷🇪🇸 (@OM_Espanol) September 16, 2019

Money Trumps All

Unfortunately for the other French clubs though, Paris Saint-Germain has the financial clout to cover up any mistakes that its scouting or coaching staff might make.

With a total squad value of $1.2 billion, vastly more than the values of Monaco ($403 million), Lyon ($388 million), or Marseille ($264 million), the chances of someone upsetting the French apple cart are not good.

And with Neymar’s immediate future secured to the French champions, the club should be so far in front come January that even if the Brazilian is successful in securing a move away from France then, it will likely be too late for the other contenders.

Prediction: PSG to win a third straight French title