Ligue 1 2025/26 preview: Can Marseille and Monaco stop PSG? | OneFootball

Ligue 1 action is back on August 15 with top four hopefuls Rennes and title challengers Olympique Marseille locking horns at the Roazhon Park.

Rennes must recover from a thoroughly disappointing 2024/25 campaign, where they finished in 12th place.

Marseille harbour hopes of toppling Paris Saint-Germain after finishing second. They must be itching to lay down a marker by beating Rennes on enemy territory.

They have reinforced their squad this summer, setting the stage for a cracking campaign opener.

With that in mind, read on as we preview the 2025/26 Ligue 1 season.

Ligue 1 Title Contenders

PSG are the favourites to retain their crown. They haven’t relinquished the throne for four successive years and have no plans of starting now.

They showed a remarkable relentlessness that struck fear into the heart of opponents last term, obliterating teams which stood in their path.

Their Ligue 1 unbeaten run lasted from August to April, until Nice stopped it.

Marseille and Monaco will hope to push PSG. Roberto De Zerbi’s side finished second last term, a whopping 19 points behind the champions.

They need to close the gap and try to ruffle PSG’s feathers. Losing to Chelsea at the Club World Cup exposed weaknesses that Marseille and other competitors can capitalise on.

If they plan to overtake PSG at the top of the Ligue 1 table, they need to put together long-stretching winning runs and overcome the mental frailty that has held them back from clinching the title since 2010.

Despite adding World Cup winner Paul Pogba, Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati, and Bundesliga title-winning goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, Ligue 1 experts doubt Monaco’s credentials.

Many people believe they do not have what it takes to overhaul PSG. Adi Hutter’s tactical brilliance can only go so far if he doesn’t get the backing he needs.

Their fans want them to fight for the title, but they will need to pull off some remarkable coups in the final weeks of the transfer window to spur this team to challenge PSG.

The Battle for European Slots

With PSG and Marseille fighting for the title, they are likely to take the top two spots in Ligue 1, leaving the rest to fight for scraps.

Monaco, Nice and Lille are expected to battle it out for the last Champions League place. They all have the quality to take the spot.

Nice could struggle due to the weight of European commitment, but Franck Haise is a manager renowned for punching above his weight.

Lille are also equally solid in the dugout with Bruno Genesio leading them to a respectable fifth-place finish last term.

Nicknamed ‘Pep’ by the French media, Genesio will be determined to take his Lille side even further up the table, setting up an exciting battle.

Lille have made some excellent signings, including Felix Correia and Olivier Giroud. They could be a surprise package this term.

Strasbourg have spent the most in Ligue 1 this summer, reinforcing heavily as they bid to shock the division again. No one is counting them out.

Lyon are an unknown quantity because of their legal ordeals, but they should be in the top seven.

The Relegation Battle

Paris FC are back in the top flight after 46 years and come ready to make a splash.

Their ambitious owners want the team competing in the top flight and have given Stephane Gilli the tools he needs to steer them to safety.

Unfortunately, fellow climbers Metz do not have the same financial capabilities and could lose Idrissa Gueye, who helped them back up with six goals and an assist.

Metz have already sold a few influential players and could be in the relegation battle if they do not start signing some quality players.

One season after suffering relegation to Ligue 2, Lorient FC are back with the big dogs but will need to play out of their skin to keep themselves up.

Le Havre survived last season by the skin of their teeth. They have signed nine players on free transfers, but it might not be enough.

Angers and Nantes should also be wary after uninspiring campaigns.

Golden Boot

The 2025/26 Ligue 1 top scorer battle is shaping up to be a two-horse race between Ousmane Dembele (PSG) and Mason Greenwood (Marseille).

PSG’s talisman is the obvious favourite after claiming the Golden Boot last season. He is surrounded by elite service and primed to lead the charts again.

But Greenwood has been the story of pre-season. The Marseille forward has looked unplayable, tormenting defences with his movement and lethal left foot.

After finishing second in the rankings last term, he will be eager to claim the Golden Boot this time around.

With Marseille pushing PSG at the top, Greenwood’s goals could prove decisive in the title race and his duel with Dembele.

Expect the contest to be fierce, with each slip-up punished and each purple patch potentially swinging the balance.

How to watch Ligue 1 Matches Live On TV

Ligue 1 fixtures can be watched through the Ligue 1 Pass (eight of nine fixtures each weekend), with beIN Sports retaining the right for the remaining game. In the UK, you can watch Paris Saint-Germain, AS Monaco, Olympique Marseille, and RC Strasbourg Alsace in the Champions League via TNT Sports.

Here is more information on how to live stream Ligue 1 matches in UK and around the world.