Matvey Safonov will win Ligue 1, but Golovin has a better chance in the French Cup
Maxim Ermakov August 7, 2024, 08:45 Moscow time
Luis Enrique is changing the Parisians for the better. Mbappé won’t be much worse off without Kylian. Monaco shouldn’t be underestimated either.
It’s all business as usual in the French Championship. PSG, even after parting ways with Kylian Mbappé, remains the main contender to win Ligue 1. Other teams simply don’t have the resources to compete with them. Or is everything not as obvious as it seems at first glance?
The Parisians have won 10 of the last 12 editions of the French Championship. In the 2016/2017 season, Monaco won the championship and in the 2020/2021 season, Lille won the championship. Perhaps the new season will still give us a sensation, or is it reckless to count on it?
Parisians have no equal
At the end of last season, PSG won the championship and the French Cup. The gap with the closest pursuer, Monaco, in the championship was nine points. In the new season, the Parisians are unlikely to win Ligue 1 with the same confidence.
Kylian Mbappé has scored 27 goals in the league. Ousmane Dembélé will probably be the new leader of the club. He worked even harder last season than the striker who moved to Real Madrid.
It will be hot in Spain:
Mbappé is a champion, Flick is underestimated, Zakharyan fights for the Champions League. Prediction for the season in Spain
Dembélé did not perform worse scenarios and adapted to Luis Enrique’s playing style than Mbappé. You should not expect the same performance from him as from Kylian. However, the Spanish specialist has Marco Asensio, Vitinha, Milan Skriniar and a lot of other elite players to help him.
And in the summer, Matvey Safonov, who played for Krasnodar, joined PSG. More competition in the goalkeeping position is something the Red and Whites have been missing for a long time. No other team in Ligue 1 has such a complete squad as theirs. You can bet on the Parisians to win the championship at odds of 1.25.
Golovin to compete with Safonov for French Cup
Monaco, who finished last season second in the French top flight standings, like PSG, parted ways with their top scorer and long-time leader Wissam Ben Yedder in the summer. Alexander Golovin became the team’s new captain.
I don’t want to discount the Monegasques in the fight for the Ligue 1 championship. Under Adi Hütter, the team plays interesting football and regularly achieves effective victories. And yet, in the summer Monaco lost more than it won. It is much more likely that it will triumph in the Coupe de France.
What to expect from Golovin as captain:
Alexander Golovin is now Monaco’s captain! Can he handle a key role?
All the most interesting things promise to happen there. PSG have no power here. They have only won one of the last three draws in the tournament. Without Mbappé, success in several competitions will be problematic. Other teams take the French Cup more seriously than the Parisians.
Marseille can compete for the Cup, as they signed a contract with Roberto de Zerbi in the summer. Other contenders include the strong and dangerous Lille, who became the discovery of last season, Brest, the unyielding Lens, Monaco, Nice or some other club. They are unstable at distance, but are always in good spirits for the French Cup. You can bet that the red and blues will not win the tournament by 1.85.
Parisians will disappoint Safonov
This is bad news for Matvey Safonov. The main opportunity for him to prove his worth is the French Cup. In Ligue 1, he is unlikely to get much playing time because it is very difficult to beat Gianluigi Donnarumma. Lately, the Italian has stepped up his game.
Safonov will undoubtedly delight in some brilliant saves and pave the way for further competition with Donnarumma. Victory in Ligue 1 will not escape him. But only to triumph in the championship, Luis Enrique can sacrifice the French Cup. Winning the championship is more important.
Bet 1: PSG will win Ligue 1 in the 2024/2025 season by 1.25.
Bet 2: PSG will not win the French Cup by 1.85.
In England it will be more interesting than last season:
Guardiola dominates, Arteta is under pressure, Vardy remains. It’s a new season in the Premier League!
