There’s one big story that has been dominating the Ligue 1 2023 news over the past week. The ‘will he, won’t he’ question over Lionel Messi’s likely move away from PSG.
Kylian Mbappe may disagree, but he’s Ligue 1’s most famous player and it seems like the 2022 World Cup winner might be ready to return to Barcelona, though there has been chatter that Messi might even follow Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia. But the pull of Catalonia might just be too much for the Argentine magician to resist and it could be the perfect place for his swansong.
Several players at the Camp Nou, including Sergi Roberto and Ronald Araujo have already said they’d love to see Messi return and, yesterday, the Blaugrana’s star striker Robert Lewandowski joined the increasing clamour for his return. Speaking at a public appearance the Polish hitman made it clear he would love to play with the 35 year old saying: “Messi belongs at Barca and if he comes back it will be incredible. We know his place is here at Barcelona. I don’t know what will happen, but I hope that next season we can play together.”
Now that would be worth watching!
It’s hard for Ligue 1 to keep its biggest stars, though Mbappe resisted a move to Real Madrid last season, and the loss of Messi would be a blow to French football. He’s the league’s most prolific assist maker, teeing up his 14th of the campaign as he set up a goal for Sergio Ramos in a 2-0 win over OGC Nice at the weekend. It was his 28th goal involvement of the season as he had earlier scored his 14th goal to give PSG a first half lead and deservedly picked up the man-of-the-match award.
If the Parisiens are resigned to losing their veteran star forward then they could make a move to replace him with a player who is at the other end of his career. The French media have reported that Olympique Lyonnais winger Rayan Cherki is on the Parc des Princes radar. The 19 year old France U21 star has already made 75 appearances for Lyon and, if his team fails to qualify for Europe as seems likely, he could be ready to make a move. A versatile and quick-footed player, Cherki can play out wide or as an attacking midfielder just behind the striker, and he could be a smart replacement for Messi.
Whether he leaves or unexpectedly decides to stay in Paris, Messi is highly likely to pick up yet another title. The latest Ligue 1 2023 betting odds, here at SBOTOP, reckon it’s PSG’s to lose; with the league leaders rated at 1.03 to win the 2022/23 title with second placed Lens at 26.00 and Olympique Marseilles at 51.00. The Parisiens are six points clear with eight games to play, and while Lens are on the charge with four consecutive victories it looks like they are in a three way battle for two Champions League spots, along with OM and AS Monaco.
Four to go down this season
This is not the year to have an off season in the bottom half of the table as, following a 2021 vote by the French Professional League, officials decided to reduce the top flight from 20 clubs to 18. And that means there will be four sides sliding down to Ligue 2 while only two will come the other way.
Angers are pretty much gone, rock bottom on 14 points, with Ajaccio and Troyes in mortal danger on 21 points and seven from safety. Two wins on the bounce have lifted Auxerre out of the four-team drop zone and up to 15th place, leaving Strasbourg in the uncomfortable 17th spot, on 26 points and two behind Brest who have picked up four points from the last two games.
14th placed Nantes aren’t entirely out of danger; a return of two points from five games has left the Canaries just five points above the drop; but they have a decent chance for three points this weekend.
The relegation battle is where the real pressure is and there will be nerves shredded on Sunday when Strasbourg host Ajaccio, who have lost the last five, and Auxerre host Nantes. Should Strasbourg win then Brest will likely drop to 17th unless they can win at home to Nice.
While Messi and PSG are set fair for a title win there will be plenty of twists and turns at the bottom end of the table. It looks like three are down and the last place will be filled by one of four.
It’s going to the wire!
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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