Every football enthusiast attempting to track or understand first-division French football often asks, “How many games does a Ligue 1 season include?” This question remains crucial for fans who want to organize their tracking of team matches while also being important for sports quiz participants and those who want to compare Ligue 1 with EPL prize money. On 96 bet, we make sure every answer is clear, friendly, and practical—exactly how a student or new fan would explain it to a friend.
Understanding the Ligue 1 Format
Ligue 1 is the highest level of football in France. It’s home to clubs like PSG, Marseille, Lyon, and Monaco. Here’s exactly how the season is put together:
- Number of Teams: Ligue 1 currently features 18 clubs (it was 20 clubs up to 2022–23, but changed to 18 from 2023–24 onwards).
- Double Round Robin: Every team plays all others twice—once at home and once away.
How Many Games in a Ligue 1 Season?
Let’s get straight to the point about how many games are in a Ligue 1 season for each club and for the whole league combined.
1. Each Club
- Each team plays 34 games in a Ligue 1 season.
- That is: 17 home games + 17 away games.
2. League Total
- Total Ligue 1 matches in a season:
- 18 teams x 17 home games each = 306 matches per season.
- Another way: A double round-robin among 18 teams results in “n × (n – 1)” games divided by 2 (since each match involves two teams).
- Calculation: 18 x 17 = 306 total “pairings” (each happening twice—home and away).
Ligue 1 Games Overview
| Criteria | Number of Matches |
| Per Club (since 2023–24) | 34 (17h + 17a) |
| League Total | 306 |
Historical Change: Why Fewer Games Now?
The 2022–23 season marked the end of 20-team Ligue 1 play before the league cut its number of clubs to 18 starting in 2023–24 to improve competition quality and reduce fixture congestion.
- Older seasons (20 teams): 38 games per team, 380 total matches.
- Now (18 teams): 34 games per team, 306 total matches.
- This move makes Ligue 1 unique compared to the “big five” leagues in Europe, which mostly stick with 20 clubs.
- English Premier League ranking Comparisons shows the difference in intensity, rest periods, and why points totals might seem different.
Why Does “How Many Games Are in a Ligue 1 Season” Matter?
Understanding this is important for:
- Fans: Helps you plan how often your team plays, build excitement.
- Fantasy Players: Essential for setting up teams and strategies, a bit like EPL matches for English gameweek planning.
- Betting odds: When using 96 betting for odds or bet slips, knowing the season length helps with outright and weekly bets.
- Media and Highlights: Planning content, contests, and coverage.
- EPL prize money and other league rewards: More or fewer games influence the final league payouts and stats records.
Ligue 1 vs. Other Top Leagues
One great way to keep things clear is to compare how many games in a season in Ligue 1 with other famous European leagues.
Comparing Season Lengths
| League | Teams | Games Per Club | Season Matches Total |
| France – Ligue 1 | 18 | 34 | 306 |
| England – Premier League | 20 | 38 | 380 |
| Spain – La Liga | 20 | 38 | 380 |
| Italy – Serie A | 20 | 38 | 380 |
| Germany – Bundesliga | 18 | 34 | 306 |
Key Takeaways:
- Ligue 1 and Bundesliga (Germany) have the same number of teams and matches.
- Premier League, La Liga, Serie A have 4 more games per season per club.
Typical Ligue 1 Season Example
Let’s break down what a sample Ligue 1 season looks like:
- Start: Usually mid-August.
- End: Mid to late May.
- Game Weeks: 34 matchdays; one match per week for each club, with some breaks for international fixtures or cups.
PSG’s Hypothetical Fixture Structure
| Matchday | Home/Away | Main Opponent |
| 1 | Home | Lyon |
| 2 | Away | Marseille |
| … | … | … |
| 17 | Home | Monaco |
| 18–34 | Return legs vs. first 17 |
Each team plays every other team once in the first half and again in the second, just switching the location.
What Difference Does the Format Make for Fans and Bettors?
- More Rest: Fewer matches means clubs may have more rest, which affects player fatigue and form.
- Betting Strategy: Weekly Football betting odds may change as clubs rotate squads less.
- Tighter Title Races: With fewer matches, a bad month can really dent a team’s title hopes.
- Stats Records: Top scorers and assists tallies are often slightly lower than 38-game leagues.
Conclusion: Ligue 1 Game Count Matters
So, to sum it up—
- How many games in Ligue 1 season?
Answer: 34 per team, 306 for the league (since 2023–24).
The number of games in the Ligue 1 season plays an important role for planning, debating with friends and Football betting. The latest tables and trusted sources will provide complete team-by-team fixtures together with historical data and information about football worldwide impact.
Indibet has some basic info but doesn’t always keep pace with changes or new fixtures, while other sites can feel confusing. For every update, simply sign in to 96.com and enjoy France’s top league with the smartest, simplest experience for Indian fans.
FAQs
Q1: How many games are in a Ligue 1 season for each team?
A: 34 games (17 home, 17 away) since the 2023–24 season.
Q2: Has Ligue 1 always had 34 matches per club?
A: No. Before 2023, Ligue 1 had 20 clubs and each team played 38 matches.
Q3: Why did Ligue 1 reduce its number of teams?
A: To improve quality, manage fixture congestion, and make the league more competitive.
Q4: Is Ligue 1 now like any other European league in format?
A: Yes, it’s now similar to Germany’s Bundesliga.
Q5: How does the season’s length impact betting and rankings?
A: Fewer games can mean more intense title/relegation fights, quicker swings in Premier League ranking comparisons, and slightly less margin for betting upsets.
Q6: Where can I get all Ligue 1 fixtures and updates?
A: For Indian fans, login to 96.com for schedules, stats, and every key update—faster and clearer than Indibet and most other brands.
Q7: Does the EPL have more matches than Ligue 1?
A: Yes, with 38 games per club and 380 total matches in each season.
Q8: Do fewer Ligue 1 games mean fewer goals or records?
A: Sometimes—there’s less margin for big stats, but it can make every match more important and exciting.
If you’re planning your football year, always double check the fixtures, stay ready for every matchday, and get into every debate about how many games in a Ligue 1 season confident with facts—especially with 96.com by your side!
