Ligue 1 heads into the international break with eight matchdays remaining in the season and a host of teams are still involved in the relegation scrap. There are just six points separating Toulouse in 11th from Metz in 17th and the latest Ligue 1 relegation odds suggest at least six teams are still in danger.
Early strugglers Lyon have now risen up the table with a much improved run throughout the winter months seeing them avoid an unlikely relegation battle. They’re now 10th on 34 points with Ligue 1 top goalscorer hopeful Alexandre Lacazette a key man in their revival.
However, any of the sides below Lyon in the French top flight standings could still potentially go down.
Ligue 1 relegation odds and tips
Clermont Foot (1/6)
According to the Ligue 1 relegation odds, Clermont Foot are the team most likely to go down. They’re rock bottom currently with just 20 points but did give themselves a glimmer of hope with a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Le Havre at the weekend with Muhammed Cham scoring a brace.
Despite their struggles, the Clermont board have kept faith with long-serving boss Pascal Gastien who has been in charge since 2017 but is expected to leave this summer.
Sunday’s win was just a second home victory all season with an average of just 0.77 points per home game sure to land any team in trouble. Given they still have to travel to three of the current top six, Clermont Foot are going to need to find some home form if they’re to have any chance of beating the drop. On the evidence of the season so far, their chances of staying up look slim.
Metz (1/3)
Metz are second bottom and second favourites to go down. There are two automatic relegation places in Ligue 1 while the 16th place side goes into the relegation play-offs so Metz only need to climb one place to at least have a shot at safety.
They looked doomed a little over a fortnight ago but back-to-back wins over fellow strugglers Nantes and Clermont Foot moved them much closer to the teams above them. It also showcased an element of fighting spirit and suggests they may be well equipped to deal with the relegation six pointers that are often so decisive in determining who stays up and who goes down.
Unfortunately for Metz, their next three games are all against top six sides though and they’ve already played all of the other sides in the bottom four, winning five of those six matches. Those results account for a huge 65% of their points this term with just one victory against the rest of the division.
Lorient (2/1)
While Clermont and Metz look the teams most likely to fill the automatic relegation places, a real scrap could be ahead in terms of trying to avoid 16th and a relegation play-off.
The third favourites for the drop are currently Lorient. Defensive problems have plagued them all season and their average of 1.88 goals per game conceded is the worst in the division. They are at least a team with a goal threat with three players who have registered five or more goals including 17 year old Eli Junior Kroupi.
They do have a knack for getting results when it’s least expected though, drawing away to PSG this season for example and they’ve avoided defeat in six of their eight matches against top six opponents which bodes well for their chances of getting over the line and securing another season in Ligue 1.
Nantes (9/4)
Nantes currently sit in the relegation play-off position and they’re also in the worst form of any of the teams at the bottom with three straight league defeats.
Having spent the last decade in the top flight, it’d be a surprise if Nantes were to drop, although they flirted with trouble last term despite reaching a second straight French Cup Final.
The board has responded to their current poor form by sacking coach Jocelyn Gourvennec and bringing back former boss Antoine Kombouare. It’s a bold call, but one that could spark a reaction when Nantes travel to Nice in the first game after the international break.
Le Havre (13/2)
Things are looking a bit safer for La Havre, but they certainly still have work to do in order to remain at French football’s top table with a run of five defeats in six games plunging them towards the danger zone.
One thing that may prove their saving grace is their strong home record against bottom half sides and the fact that they still have four of the bottom seven to play at home. Le Havre boast a 100% home record against current bottom half opponents which suggests they should pick up enough wins over the remainder of the campaign to stay afloat.
Their next game is a big one against a Montpellier side that is currently one point worse off than Le Havre, although the bookies reckon they’re slightly more likely to stay up with odds of 7/1 for Michel Der Zakarian’s team to drop.
