Friday night signalled the final round of games from the 2018/19 Ligue 1 season. The title may have been decided weeks ago, with PSG finishing first by 16 points, but it wasn’t until the last game week of the campaign that the relegation spots were sealed, with Caen joining Guingamp in Ligue 2 and Dijon competing in the playoff as Monaco beat the drop by the skin of their teeth.
Here, we run through our Ligue 1 team of the season using our unique rating system…
Goalkeeper: Walter Benitez (Nice) - 7.05 rating
Nice overcame fierce rivals Monaco on the final day of the campaign, earning a 2-0 win that saw them finish seventh in the end. A solid season was made possible by the resolute goalkeeping performances of Argentine Walter Benitez. The shotstopper kept more clean sheets (16) than any other goalkeeper in France’s top tier, while seven WhoScored man of the match awards was also more than any other player in his position. The 26-year-old returned a better save success rate (79.5%) in France’s top tier and with a WhoScored rating of 7.05, is more than deserving of his spot in the best XI.
Right-back: Youcef Atal (Nice) - 7.47 rating
What an inspired signing Youcef Atal proved to be. The second Nice player to feature in the best XI, the Algerian youngster is now being linked with a host of big name teams as the summer nears. The versatile 23-year-old scored six goals in Ligue 1 this season and impressed from both right-back and right wing-back with a WhoScored rating of 7.47 the fifth best in the league. He pushed forward well too when given the chance as he completed more dribbles (101) than any other defender to cap a wonderful debut campaign in France.
Centre-back: Marquinhos (PSG) - 7.24 rating
PSG’s season ended not with a bang, but a whimper, as they fell to a 3-1 loss at Reims. That said, the French champions were in tremendous form at both ends of the pitch with Marquinhos the first of four players from Thomas Tuchel’s side. Only Lille (33) conceded fewer goals than PSG (35) in Ligue 1 this season, with the Brazilian solid at the heart of the PSG backline. 2.2 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per 90 were both commendable, while a 92% pass success rate from 75.2 passes per game, the sixth and second best returns, respectively, helped return a WhoScored rating of 7.24.
Centre-back: Marcelo (Lyon) - 7.25 rating
It’s an all-Brazilian centre-back partnership as Marcelo partners Marquinhos at the back. The experienced defender proved an astute pickup from Besiktas in 2017 as he followed up his debut campaign in France with another fine showing in his second season with Lyon. Marcelo reinforced a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘aerial duels’ as he won more headed battles (172) than any other player, while an aerial success rate of 77.8% was better than any of the 131 players to contest 75 or more aerial duels. Impressive in the air as he was with the ball at his feet, Marcelo’s 2091 accurate passes was the second best in Ligue 1 as the 32-year-old landed a WhoScored rating of 7.25.
Left-back: Ferland Mendy (Lyon) - 7.09 rating
The second Lyon player to make the cut, Ferland Mendy has been courted by Real Madrid in recent weeks and it’s easy to see why. The 23-year-old’s dribbling ability afforded OL an additional attacking threat and Mendy maximised the license to bombard forward as a 76.1% dribble success rate, that better than any of the 77 players to attempt 50 or more dribbles, showed. Two goals and one assist were both solid returns and saw Mendy gain a WhoScored rating of 7.09.
Right midfield: Nicolas Pepe (Lille) - 7.62 rating
Nicolas Pepe established himself as one of the most sought after wide talents in Europe with an excellent season for Lille, who despite their second placed finish, will find it difficult to retain the Ivorian’s services this summer. A WhoScored rating of 7.62 was the third best in Ligue 1 this season with Pepe chipping in with 22 goals and 11 assists, ending the campaign as one of only three players to register double figures for both in France’s top tier. He won more WhoScored man of the match awards (13) than any other player in Ligue 1 and it’s easy to see why a host of Europe’s elite sides are tracking the 23-year-old.
Central midfield: Teji Savanier (Nimes) - 7.88 rating
Pipping Pepe to second, Teji Savanier’s WhoScored rating (7.88) is all the more impressive when considering this was his first Ligue 1 season of his career. The 27-year-old registered more assists (14) than any other player and was top for key passes from set-piece situations (56) and clear-cut goalscoring opportunities (18) in the league. At 27 years of age, Savanier is a late bloomer, but after such a spectacular campaign, interest in his signature should be higher with Nimes braced for the Frenchman’s possible departure this summer.
Central midfield: Angel Di Maria (PSG) - 7.52 rating
Like Pepe, Angel Di Maria registered double figures for both goals (12) and assists (11) in Ligue 1 this season as the Argentine excelled in a number of different roles for PSG. The latter was the joint-second best return in Ligue 1 and came from a respectable 2.1 key passes per 90. Additional returns of 1.6 successful dribbles and 48.6 passes per 90 noted his good work on the ball, while out of possession; Di Maria was effective as he made 1.1 tackles and 0.6 interceptions per 90 to help land a WhoScored rating of 7.52.
Left midfield: Memphis Depay (Lyon) - 7.34 rating
Rounding off the Lyon contingent is Memphis Depay, who is being linked with a summer return to the Premier League. The Dutchman ensured he ended the campaign with double figures for goals (10) and assists (10) as reached the latter by providing the assist for Maxwel Cornet’s opening goal in Friday’s 3-2 win at Nimes. Lyon may have underwhelmed, but Depay’s 10 assists came from 112 key passes, more than any other player, as the former Manchester United man earned a WhoScored rating of 7.34.
Striker: Edinson Cavani (PSG) - 7.44 rating
It’s an all-PSG frontline in the Ligue 1 team of the season, starting first with Edinson Cavani. This campaign may not have been his most prolific campaign to date, but the Uruguayan still netted 18 times for the champions, which is all the more commendable considering he made just 21 league appearances this term, while five assists was also a solid return. A 34.6% conversion rate is a notable achievement with Cavani landing a WhoScored rating of 7.44, that enough to feature in attack.
Striker: Kylian Mbappe (PSG) - 8.00 rating
Rounding off the Ligue 1 team of the season is PSG and France superstar Kylian Mbappe. The 20-year-old star earned the golden boot with 33 league goals, that 11 more than any other player, while nine WhoScored man of the match awards was second only to Pepe in France’s top tier. 25 of those 33 goals were clear-cut chances and after such a prolific return, Mbappe was good value for our player of the season award as he gained a WhoScored rating of 8.00.
