Ligue 1 has often been admired for the attacking prowess of its teams and, through the decades, the French league has possessed some of the most skilful and creative players in Europe.
But they have some pretty fine defenders too, and here are SBOTOP’s five of the best.
Marquinhos: PSG
The Ligue 1 2022 news headlines have so often been written by Lionel Messi and his PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe, but the club has a superstar at the other end of the pitch in the shape of Brazilian centre-back Marquinhos.
The 28-year-old is a Rolls Royce of a defender with 67 caps for the Selecao he can rightly claim to be one of the best centre-backs on the planet.
PSG head coach Mauricio Pochettino gave Marquinhos the captain’s armband and he has led the Paris backline with 13 clean sheets, and with 36 goals conceded, PSG have the joint best defence in Ligue 1.
With only five yellow cards all season, he is a strong but clean ball player and Marquinhos also has an attacking threat, weighing in with five goals for the league champions and firing 264 key passes into the final third.
There are frustrations at the Parc des Princes that progress in Europe is slow and the Parisiens must watch the Champions League final in their own country. They were dumped out of the competition by Real Madrid at the Round of 16 stage and the club’s owners might be getting impatient.
For players of the quality of Marquinhos, this too is a source of frustration. He is a mainstay at the club since his arrival fro AS Roma in 2013 and he might have expected European glory by now.
William Saliba: Olympique Marseille
The most popular club in France was the best of the rest last season as Olympique Marseilles finished second behind PSG. And centre-back William Saliba, on loan from Arsenal, can be pleased with his season’s work.
At 6’4”, the 21-year-old is an imposing presence, strong in the air and comfortable on the ball and he was named the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year and in the Team of the Year.
Saliba has also impressed France head coach Didier Deschamps and he has picked up two international caps. He is statistically the best passer in the league with 3041 completed passes while making 205 interceptions and 93 successful tackles.
The Ligue 1 2022 betting odds never doubted the title would land up in Paris. But if Saliba stays in Marseille next season, then OM might well push PSG closer.
Guillermo Maripan: AS Monaco
Maripan is an experienced campaigner and the Chilean centre-back has been a vocal presence at Monaco since his arrival from Deportivo Alaves in 2019.
Like Saliba, he stands at 6’4” but he is a different type of operator, more dominant in the air. And while he’s 100-per cent focused on his defencive duties, he hasn’t registered an assist or goal this season.
But that won’t worry him since it’s not his job and Maripan is the type of player that every top side needs.
There are reports circulating that FC Bayern are interested in signing the 28-year-old. While he doesn’t speak German, that shouldn’t be a problem to Maripan as he is a talented linguist, already speaking Spanish, English, and French.
He’s the type of character Julian Nagelsmann wants in his dressing room, but the Bavarians will have to pay handsomely for the defender who is contracted to Monaco until 2024.
Jean-Clair Todibo: Nice
Fifth-placed Nice have qualified for the Europa League thanks mainly to its superb defence which, with 36 goals conceded, was the joint-best in the French top-flight.
And it was a breakout season for France U20 star Jean-Clair Todibo. He moved from Barcelona at a price of 12-M in 2021 and has made 36 appearances for Les Aiglons, making 251 pass interceptions and 22 key blocks.
He’s at the centre of much of Nice’s build up play, with 2422 successful passes and 361 into the attacking third of the pitch.
Nice are expecting more from 22-year-old Todibo and they could well have got themselves a bargain here.
Nayef Aguerd: Rennes
Rennes finished in a strong fourth position and Moroccan centre-back Nayef Aguerd can be pleased with his season’s work. The 26-year-old is a cultured centre-back and a good reader of the game, a calming influence for his teammates with his technical ability.
Aguerd impressed at the 2022 African Cup of Nations and he has been on the radar of Premier League club West Ham United who are reported to be read to table a bid of £15-M to bring him to London. I think Hammers head coach David Moyes will have to up that figure to get his man
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
