2009–10 Ligue 1

The 2009–10 Ligue 1 season was the 72nd since its establishment. Bordeaux were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 5 June 2009, and play commenced on 8 August and ended on 15 May 2010. There were three promoted teams from Ligue 2, replacing the three teams that were relegated from Ligue 1 following the 2008–09 season. A total of 20 teams competed in the league with three clubs suffering relegation to the second division, Ligue 2. All clubs that secured Ligue 1 status for this season were subject to approval by the DNCG before becoming eligible to participate. In addition, German sportswear company Puma became the official provider of match balls for the season after agreeing to a long term partnership with the Ligue de Football Professionnel.
The season began on 8 August 2009 under a new format with 16 clubs beginning play simultaneously followed by 4 clubs competing the following day. Under the new format, the showcase match of the opening week will contest the winners of the league the previous season and the winners of the second division the previous season. In the match this year, defending champions Bordeaux defeating second division champions Lens 4–1 at the Stade Chaban-Delmas.
On 5 May 2010, Marseille defeated Rennes 3–1 to claim their 9th Ligue 1 title and their first since the 1991–92 season. Because of their Coupe de la Ligue title, Marseille claimed the league and league cup double. It is the second straight season a club has won the league and league cup double with Bordeaux achieving it last season.

Teams

Promotion and relegation

Teams promoted from 2008–09 Ligue 2

Champions: Lens
Runners-up: Montpellier
3rd Place: Boulogne

Teams relegated to 2009–10 Ligue 2

18th Place: Caen
19th Place: Nantes
20th Place: Le Havre

Stadia and locations

Club	Location	Venue	Capacity	Avg. attendance
	Auxerre	Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps	24,493	11,306
	Bordeaux	Stade Chaban-Delmas	34,327	29,197
	Boulogne-sur-Mer	Stade de la Libération	15,004	11,945
	Grenoble	Stade des Alpes	20,000	14,130
	Le Mans	Stade Léon-Bollée	17,500	9,014
	Lens	Stade Félix-Bollaert	41,233	33,963
	Villeneuve d'Ascq	Stadium Lille Métropole	21,803	14,543
	Lorient	Stade du Moustoir	16,669	11,291
	Lyon	Stade Gerland	41,044	35,261
	Marseille	Stade Vélodrome	60,031	48,941
	Fontvieille	Stade Louis II	18,500	8,191
	Montpellier	Stade de la Mosson	32,900	17,407
	Tomblaine	Stade Marcel Picot	20,087	16,294
	Nice	Stade du Ray	17,415	8,567
	Paris	Parc des Princes	48,712	33,022
	Rennes	Stade de la Route de Lorient	31,127	22,876
	Saint-Étienne	Stade Geoffroy-Guichard	35,616	25,876
	Montbéliard	Stade Auguste Bonal	20,025	12,628
	Toulouse	Stadium Municipal	35,672	19,472
	Valenciennes	Stade Nungesser	16,547	12,123

League table

Statistics

Top goalscorers

Mamadou Niang won the Trophée du Meilleur Buteur.

Rank

Player

Club

Goals

Awards

Annual awards

The nominees for the Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Manager of the Year and Goal of the Year in Ligue 1. The winner was determine at the annual UNFP Awards, which was held on 9 May. The winners are displayed in bold.

Team of the Year

Position

Player

Club

Goalkeeper

Season statistics

''Updated 11 April 2010''

Scoring

First goal of the season: Mamadou Niang for Marseille against Grenoble, 1 minute and 34 seconds..
Fastest goal in a match: 1 minute – Roland Lamah for Le Mans against Montpellier..
Goal scored at the latest point in a match: 90+4 minutes and 27 seconds – Sloan Privat for Sochaux against Lens
First own goal of the season: Olivier Monterrubio for Lille, 64 minutes and 38 seconds
First penalty kick of the season: 58 minutes and 44 seconds – Mathieu Coutadeur for Le Mans against Lyon.
First hat-trick of the season: Michel Bastos against Sochaux.
Widest winning margin: 5 goals
*Lorient 5–0 Boulogne
*Grenoble 5–0 Auxerre
Most goals in one match: 10 goals – Lyon 5–5 Marseille.
Most goals in one half: 6 goals
*Lyon v Marseille ; 2–2 at half time, 5–5 final.
*Boulogne v Paris Saint-Germain ; 1–0 at half time, 2–5 final.

Discipline

First yellow card of the season: Sidney Govou for Lyon against Le Mans, 9 minutes and 24 seconds
First red card of the season: Cyril Jeunechamp for Montpellier against Paris Saint-Germain, 32 minutes and 11 seconds
Card given at latest point in a game: Nicolas Penneteau at 90+3 minutes and 44 seconds for Valenciennes against Nancy
Most yellow cards in a single match: 9
*Rennes 0–1 Auxerre – 4 for Rennes and 5 for Auxerre
Most red cards in a single match: 3
*Bordeaux 2–2 Lyon – 2 for Bordeaux and 1 for Lyon

Miscellaneous

Longest second half injury time: 5 minutes and 56 seconds – Lens against Lille.
On 9 August 2009, Bordeaux established a record for most consecutive league wins with 12 surpassing Lille who won 11 consecutive matches in 1949, winning their last four games of the 1948–49 season and their first seven in the 1949–50 season. Bordeaux's streak began during the 2008–09 season on 14 March 2009 following a 2–1 victory over Nice. The club broke the record on the opening match day of this season defeating Lens 4–1. The record lasted for 14 matches before coming to an end on 30 August following the club's 0–0 draw with Marseille.
On 31 October 2009, Grenoble set a record for most consecutive losses in French football following the club's eleven straight league defeat, an 0–2 loss to Lille. The previous record of ten straight defeats, held by Sète, had been intact since 1947. The losing streak came to an end the following week, on 7 November, following the club's 0–0 draw with Monaco.