France Ligue 1 Predictions, Betting Tips & Match Odds
2025/26 Ligue 1 Predictions - French Ligue 1 Football Betting Picks & Odds
The top level of French soccer is home to some of the world’s most talented players. Ligue 1 is one of the major European soccer leagues, and you can bet on all the action throughout the season here at Stake Sportsbook. What’s more, we’ve got our top sports predictions and analysis of the 2025/26 season below.
What is Ligue 1?
Ligue 1 is one of the highest levels of professional French football, and one of the top national leagues in Europe, ranked 5th behind the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, and the Bundesliga. Since the 2023/24 season, it’s featured 18 clubs, which earn the right to play in the league through the promotion and relegation system. Teams playing in Ligue 1 can also participate in the Coupe de France and Trophée des Champions, as well as European and intercontinental competitions like the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Conference League, and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Ligue 1 History & Past Winners
The first division of French soccer has existed since 1930, although the league was rebranded as Ligue 1 in 2002. Over the years, many of the best players have been developed in Ligue 1, including the Ballon d’Or winner Jean-Pierre Papin. In total, 74 different clubs have played in Ligue 1 since the first season in 1932.
Oldest Clubs
Le Havre AC: 1872
Girondins de Bordeaux: 1881
Olympique de Marseille: 1899
GC Nice: 1904
AS Saint-Étienne: 1919
Most Titles
Paris Saint-Germain: 13
Saint-Étienne: 10
Marseille: 9
Monaco: 8
Nantes: 8
Lyon: 7
Recent Winners
Paris Saint-Germain (2019/20, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25)
Lille (2020/21)
2025/26 Ligue 1 Schedule & Format
As with other major European soccer leagues, Ligue 1 follows a round robin format, with each team playing two matches against their opponents, one home and one away. A win earns 3 points, a draw 1, and a loss none. These points are tallied up over the course of the season, and come May, the team with the most points is crowned champion.
Meanwhile, teams can qualify for the Champions League or Europa League, as well as the Conference League play-offs. The 2 teams with the lowest points will be automatically relegated to Ligue 2, while the 16th-placed side will enter the relegation play-offs to decide their fate.
Here are the key dates for the 2025/26 Ligue 1 season:
Opening fixture: Friday, August 15, 2025
Start of the winter break: December 15, 2025
End of the winter break: January 4, 2026
Final day of the season: Saturday, May 16, 2026
French Ligue 1 Picks & Predictions for 2025/26
While most experts expect this season to end with Paris Saint-Germain crowned champions once more, the league still has plenty of excitement to offer. AS Monaco and Olympique Marseille could both challenge thanks to some interesting talents, and the race for European spots is sure to be a close one. What’s more, you can also bet on the Ligue 1 outright winners without PSG.
Who Will Win Ligue 1?
PSG - Paris Saint-Germain have now won 4 titles in a row and 11 titles since the 2012/13 season. They’re massive favorites to be crowned champions once more this season, especially after their success in the 2024/25 Champions League. They look unstoppable, even after players like Neymar, Messi, and Mbappe left. They have excellent quality in every position, with talent such as Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Vitinia among the best in the world.
AS Monaco - According to the preseason betting odds, Monaco are second-favorites to win Ligue 1. They last won the title in the 2016/17 season, though they have some decent players, including Paul Pogba, Eric Dier, Ansu Fati, and Folarin Balogun. Their manager, Adi Hütter, previously had success in the Austrian Bundesliga, as well as the Swiss Super League.
Olympique Marseille - The last time Marseille lifted the French Championship was in the 2009/10 season, before the era of PSG dominance began. They’re now third-favorites to win Ligue 1 this season. They’re coached by former Premier League manager Roberto De Zerbi and have some decent players, including Mason Greenwood, Adrien Rabiot, and Angel Gomes. However, their squad is likely not enough to challenge PSG.
Types of Soccer Bets & How to Bet on Ligue 1
Betting on soccer at Stake is simple enough, but our guides, including the ultimate pro betting guide, offer more details. To get started, you can also follow these quick steps:
Log in to your Stake.com account and check your current balance.
You can deposit using any of the accepted payment methods and local currencies if needed.
Alternatively, deposit and bet using cryptocurrency, with support for options such as BTC, ETH, USDT, EOS, DOGE, LTC, TRX, and SOL.
Deposit crypto with Mesh, or use a convenient service such as MoonPay or Swapped.com before securing your coins in the Stake vault.
Search for any Ligue 1 team or look for Soccer > France > Ligue 1 to see all live and upcoming games to bet on.
Choose any match to see the full range of betting options.
After checking out the stats and our expert analysis, choose a bet and enter your stake in the bet slip before confirming to place it.
There are lots of different ways to be on soccer and Ligue 1 at Stake, such as:
Draw No Bet
1st Goal
Both Teams to Score
Halftime/Fulltime
Live Stream Ligue 1 & Football/Soccer Matches Online
All Ligue 1 matches are available for live streaming and betting on at Stake, with plenty of pre-match and live betting options to choose from. You can view the live odds and place live bets while the match is in-play, with stats giving you better insights into the match and current momentum. You can enjoy free live streams of soccer games including Ligue 1 at Stake too. Simply log in to your account and select the live icon to watch the action and never miss a goal again.
Ligue 1 Betting Odds, Payouts & Promotions
Using betting sites can potentially be profitable if you know how to read and understand the odds. The key to success is finding value and low vig. You can read our guides to understanding odds and the vig before you start betting. Remember to make the most of our sports betting promotions and switch between decimal, fractional, and American odds to make them easier to read.
Soccer & Football Betting Tips, Predictions & Strategies
Pay attention to the stats - Looking at stats and researching available data should be how you make your football predictions and gain an edge. Check recent form and head-to-head statistics, and look at underlying statistics such as xG, not just wins and losses. This will give you a better idea of future performances. Last season, 2.98 goals were scored per Ligue 1 game, while home sides won 47% of the time.
Make the most of all betting markets - There are over 70 betting markets available on Ligue 1 matches, which means you have lots of betting opportunities available. Consider using handicap betting on strong teams such as PSG, while focusing on the BTTS market for teams with good offense but poor defense. Do an odds comparison so you know you’re getting the best odds.
Check team news - Team news, including suspensions and injuries, will have a major impact on the success of a team. Many teams in Ligue 1 have 1 or 2 star players, who are often relied upon for goals or game-saving interventions. Ligue 1 is also known for developing talent, and emerging stars can significantly affect games before the oddsmakers have cottoned on. Read through match previews before you bet.
Stake VIP Club & Responsible Betting
When you sign up to Stake, you’ll also become a member of our VIP club, which means you can earn rewards for placing bets. Simply level up your account to unlock rakeback, reload bonuses, and even your own VIP host. Learn about how it works on the VIP FAQ page.
Make sure that you’re betting responsibly while using Stake. Set a budget and follow our Stake Smart guidelines to stay in control.
