Monaco won their eighth Ligue 1 title by winning the title last season, their first since 2000, and will be hoping to make it a second successive success this time around. It looks like Ligue Un, which is going to be even more competitive next season with a tougher race for the Ligue Un trophy next season, is coming to a close.
Often known as Le Championnat, the French Ligue 1 is one of the most popular football leagues in Europe. Founded in 1932, the French top flight was established as Ligue 1 in 2002 and has built a reputation as the foundation for the best young talent in the world. Everyone wants to catch a glimpse of the biggest superstars and emerging TV rights from all over the world means that Brazil, Australia, the Middle East and much of Africa have their TVs turned on every week to watch the top league in France.
In the past 83 years, only 19 clubs have been crowned champions of France. Since 2002, that number has dropped to six, from seven titles held by Lyon to Paris Saint-Germain's current success, straight to Montpellier's first title during the 2011/12 season. It is a league that has produced surprises throughout the competition.
Saint-Etienne remain the most successful team in France with 10 trophies and Marseille will be hoping to add a ninth to their haul, while the likes of Nantes and Monaco have won the title eight times and even Stade de Reims or Bordeaux, who have won it six times, will be hoping to repeat their triumph.
As Ligue 1 continues to attract more people across Europe so too will it attract members of the Pundit community as the league has quickly become one of the most popular football leagues to bet on. Every week throughout the Ligue 1 season you will find members of the Pundit community offering expert analysis and posting tips on our Ligue 1 betting tips board.
The Ligue 1 season runs from August to May, with a two-week winter break at Christmas and New Year. There are 20 teams in Ligue 1, with each team playing every two games, once at home and once away, for a total of 38 games. The team with the most points from their 38 matches is crowned the Ligue 1 champion and enters the Champions League. The second-placed team also enters the Champions League, with the third-placed team entering the Champions League qualification round. The fourth-placed team secures a place in the Europa League. The two teams finishing 19th and 20th are automatically relegated to Ligue 2 , to be replaced by the two teams finishing in the top two places of Ligue 2. The 18th-placed team plays its remaining two games against the third-placed team in Ligue 2, with the winner retaining Ligue 1 for the following season and the loser relegated to Ligue 2.
Ligue 1 is one of the top leagues in Europe, with UEFA ranking France fifth behind La Liga Spain, Premier League, Bundesliga Germany and Serie A. The league also ranks fifth behind the leagues in terms of revenue generated by the 20 teams that compete.
