Football Season Guide

Dijon survived in Ligue 1 for the first time in their history last season, concluding the campaign in 16th place. They impressed with their brand of attacking football but may have to adapt a little in the forthcoming campaign as they have lost perhaps their two most important players in this regard: Pierre Lees-Mellou, who was a driving force from the midfield, and Lois Diony, who excelled in attack. While both left for substantial fees, Dijon have not spent lavishly to replace them. Benjamin Jeannot has been signed from Lorient to support Julio Tavares in attack, while the most eye-catching addition is that of Naim Sliti on loan from Lille. Meanwhile, Wesley Said has been signed permanently from Rennes but he has yet to truly realise his potential. It has been in the defence that the drive of their recruitment has come, with Wesley Lautoa and Cedric Yambere added from Lorient and Bordeaux respectively. While they are upgrades, they are not dramatic ones, with Yunis Abdelhamid allowed to leave to join Reims and Jordan Loties moving to Belgium. There remains the core of the squad that kept them afloat last season, with the unpredictable and awkward-looking Tavares the player they will look to for goals. In the midfield, Mehdi Abeid was their outstanding figure last term and keeping him will be important for the wellbeing of the team on a defensive level. Dijon know that they have weaknesses at the back, having conceded 58 times last term, but they performed notably well at home, and it will be at Stade Gaston Gerrard that their survival push will be based this time around. Olivier Dall’oglio is unlikely to change his set-up greatly this term but pre-season was not particularly encouraging, with a 2-0 defeat against Bourg a particular low point. There is clearly room for improvement yet.