Ligue 1: Lille will try to defend their title after winning the Super Cup

Clearly the most surprising champion in the top 5 leagues last season was Lille. PSG, even with Neymar, Mbappé or Di Maria in the squad, was not enough for the team from the north of France, which also scored the scalp of the Parisians in the Super Cup.

How to face the inexhaustible budget of PSG? To assemble a team that is not based on stars, but on teamwork and has a refined style of play that will make the opponent uncomfortable.

Sparta, who met Lille in the Europa League’s group stage, have learned that lesson. The French side entered the first leg so aggressively that they could have easily led 2-0 in the fifth minute. In the end, they won 4:1, winning 2:1 at home.

Lille won the title for the first time in ten years, and also broke PSG’s eight-year reign in the Super Cup at the beginning of August when Xeka decided the match with a single goal. This is the first time Lille has won this trophy in its history.

Boubakary Soumaré left last season’s squad for €20 million and will now play for Leicester. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan left the starting line-up for AC Milan for just €13 million.

He has been replaced by the returning guest Léo Jardim, but there is speculation about the arrival of the quality Odysseas Vlachodimos from Benfica.

Lille will also be graced by an offensive force in the form of Jonathan Bamba, Burak Yilmaz, Jonathan David and Yusuf Yazici in the new season. On the bench, coach Jocelyn Gourvennec still has Timothy Weah, Jonathan Ikoné and Manchester United offspring Angel Gomes.

The defensive line will continue to be held by 37-year-old Portuguese José Fonte, who has two promising youngsters (Djaló 21, Botman 21) by his side.

Lille will play in the Champions League thanks to the title, so they will have to split their forces. It certainly doesn’t have as wide a squad as PSG, which may be evident in the second half of the season.

Prediction: 2nd place

Source: Transfermarkt, Livesport