The new Ligue 1 season begins this weekend and here Sport360 has compiled the ultimate two-part guide to each team including predictions, vital statistics and key transfer news. Part one covers Angers to Marseille.
ANGERS
Coach: Stephane Moulin
Key ins: Ismael Traore (Brest), Pierrick Capelle (Clermont), Slimane Sissoko (Vendee Lucon), Sunu (Evian), Goran Karanovic (St. Gallen)
Key outs: Jonathan Kodjia (Bristol City), Rayan Frikeche (AC Ajaccio), Nicolas Pepe (US Orleans, loan)
Prediction: The loss of Ligue 2’s Player of the Season Kodjia will be a big blow for the newcomers. It’s the first time in two decades Angers have made it back to French football’s summit but they’re going to find it very tough this season – 19th.
BASTIA
Coach: Ghislain Printant
Star man: Floyd Ayite
Last season: 12th Key ins: Sadio Diallo (Stade Rennais), Seko Fofana (Loan, Manchester City), Yassine Jebbour (Montpellier)
Key outs: Ryad Boudebouz (Montpellier), Drissa Diakite (Released), Djibril Cisse (Free, JS Saint-Pierroise)
Prediction: They were one of only four clubs to beat PSG last term but much of the focus during the summer has been on problems with not guaranteeing their budget. Should they cement their Ligue 1 place, mid-table beckons – 11th.
BORDEAUX
Coach: Willy Sagnol
Star man: Diego Rolan
Last season: 6th
Key ins: Milan Gajic (OFK Beograd)
Key outs: Mariano (Sevilla), Younes Kaabouni (Red Star, loan), Julien Faubert (Released), Emiliano Sala (Nantes), Castro (Released), Azbe Jug (Sporting Lisbon)
Prediction: It’s been a very quiet window for Bordeaux, which suggests Sagnol will focus on the younger players at his disposal. There’s still time but fans will be concerned. They do have the boost of an impressive new stadium, though – 9th.
Coach: Patrice Garande
Star man: Lenny Nangis
Last season: 13th
Key ins: Andy Delort (Wigan), Jonathan Delaplace (Lille), Michael Nkololo (Clermont Foot)
Key outs: N’Golo Kante (Leicester), Bengali-Fode Koita (Free, Blackburn Rovers), Thomas Lemar (AS Monaco)
Prediction: The loss of combative midfielder Kante will be dearly felt this season. Caen struggled to get going in the early stages of last season and pulled themselves from danger with a good run of form in 2015, they may not be so fortunate this term – 15th.
AJACCIO GFCO
Coach: Thierry Laurey
Star man: Kevin Mayi
Last season: 2nd (Ligue 2)
Key ins: Jerome Le Moigne (Lens), Issiaga Sylla (Toulouse, loan), Alassane Toure (Tours)
Key outs: Cyriaque Rivieyran (Clermont Foot), Florian Fabre (Nimes Olympique), Yoann Andreu (Angers)
Prediction: It’s been some rise for the Corsican minnows and they caused a big shock with promotion to the top flight. Last season the underdogs were tipped for relegation and defied the odds but it’s difficult to see them pulling off a repeat. – 20th.
GUINGAMP
Coach: Jocelyn Gourvennec
Star man: Jimmy Briand
Last season: 10th
Key ins: Jimmy Briand (Hannover 96), Nicolas Benezet (Evian), Sloan Privat (Gent, loan)
Key outs: Claudio Beauvue (Lyon), Christophe Mandanne (Released), Rachid Alioui (Stade Lavallois)
Prediction: Beauvue’s goal-scoring exploits last season were bound to attract the interests of some of the top clubs and Lyon have pounced. The loss of their top scorer leaves a big hole to fill but the free transfer of talented winger Briand is a smart piece of business – 8th.
LILLE
Coach: Herve Renard
Star man: Vincent Enyeama
Last season: 8th
Key ins: Mounir Obbadi (AS Monaco), Eric Bautheac (Nice), Baptiste Guillaume (RC Lens)
Key outs: Adama Traore (Monaco), Idrissa Gueye (Aston Villa), Simon Kjaer (Fenerbahce), Nolan Roux (Saint-Etienne)
Prediction: Goals will be the problem for Renard’s side again this season and without the reliant Kjaer to call upon that defensive solidity from last term could soon evaporate. Bautheac is a promising addition but avoiding the bottom half is the height of their ambition – 7th.
Coach: Sylvain Ripoll
Star man: Raphael Guerreiro
Last season: 16th
Key ins: Moryke Fofana (Lillestrom SK), Alain Traore (Monaco), Benjamin Moukandjo (Reims), Enzo Reale (Arles Avignon)
Key outs: Jordan Ayew (Aston Villa), Mathias Autret (Lens)
Prediction: Lorient have have lost Ayew but made a sensible replacement in Moukandjo. The left-sided Guerreiro is a class act and this could prove his last season with the club. Always a stable and well managed outfit they should still avoid the drop with mid-table a realistic aim – 14th.
LYON
Coach: Hubert Fournier
Star man: Alexandre Lacazette
Last season: 2nd
Key ins: Claudio Beauvue (Guingamp), Jeremy Morel (Marseille), Rafael (Man United)
Key outs: Yoann Gourcuff (Released) Fares Bahlouli (AS Monaco)
Prediction: Last season’s runners-up will be the side to mount a sizeable challenge to PSG and their best piece of business during the summer has been to hold onto Europe’s hottest property in Lacazette. Still a young team, this could be the season the likes of Nabil Fekir come of age – 2nd.
MARSEILLE
Coach: Marcelo Bielsa
Star man: Florian Thauvin
Last season: 4th
Key ins: Javier Manquillo (Atletico Madrid, loan), Lucas Ocampos (Monaco), Lassana Diarra (Free), Abou Diaby (Free), Karim Rekik (Manchester City)
Key outs: Dimitri Payet (West Ham), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Tigres Monterrey), Rod Fanni (El Arabi), Andre Ayew (Swansea City), Giannelli Imbula (Porto)
Prediction: Missed out on a Champions League spot by two points but given the huge turnover of players it could be a big struggle. Keeping the enigmatic Biesla is a plus but the loss of Payet is critical – 5th.