On the daybreak of one other Ligue 1 marketing campaign, Get French Soccer Information’ journalists make their predictions, selecting the title winner, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Convention League qualifiers, the relegation candidates, the Participant of the Season, and the Golden Boot winner.
Who can be topped Ligue 1 champions?
Luke Entwistle, Editor-in-Chief
It’s as soon as once more unimaginable to look previous PSG. For the previous decade, they’ve gone into each season because the staff to beat, however by no means have their opponents felt much less helpless of their capability to do exactly that. They’re not contending with simply one of the best staff in France, however one of the best staff on this planet.
Bastien Cheval, Sub-editor
The age-old query will ship the identical reply. PSG’s monetary and sporting lead over their Ligue 1 rivals is all too nice for an underdog to disclaim them home supremacy. The very best staff in Europe is, logically, one of the best staff in France, and the following season will present simply that, once more.
George Boxall, Sub-editor
While Marseille and Monaco have added effectively through the switch window forward of their respective Champions League campaigns, they must depend on a possible quadruple-winning hangover from PSG and Luis Enrique. Les Parisiens completely dominated Ligue 1 and Europe final season, and there was little or no to counsel that the Spaniard will lose his magic contact in 2025-2026. Anticipate one other title for PSG, however with maybe a smaller margin this season.
Raphaël Jucobin, Sub-editor
Since Luis Enrique landed on a workable set-up after months of post-Kylian Mbappé tinkering final autumn, PSG have as soon as once more appeared an unstoppable pressure. A fifth consecutive league title is inevitable, though followers of French soccer will hope that this season sees the gap from second place slim down by means of challenges from Marseille, Monaco, and Lille.
Liam Wraith, Sub-editor
While it might be good to see a extra aggressive title race for the sake of Ligue 1, PSG look set to win their fifth successive title. Luis Enrique’s squad has solely been strengthened off the again of a quadruple-winning season, which indicators a warning to the remainder of the division.
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Nick Hartland, Sub-editor
It’s arduous to see any staff toppling PSG’s hegemony; the membership gained Ligue 1 at a canter final season, they usually have the expertise to do the identical once more this season. The one stumbling block may very well be what number of video games the membership performed final marketing campaign, and the way little relaxation they’ve had earlier than the beginning of the brand new season.
Who will qualify for the Champions League?
LUKE – Ligue 1 is feeling more and more stratified. PSG are, after all, on the prime of the pyramid, nevertheless it feels as if gaps are rising elsewhere. There are arguably solely two sides beneath PSG which are unequivocally stronger than they had been final season, they usually simply so occur to be the groups that completed second and third. Marseille completed just under PSG, with Monaco in third. I might count on the rostrum to look the identical, albeit not essentially in the identical order. The race for the fourth spot feels very open. Strasbourg have made some good signings and so I might have them as marginal favourites, though their participation in European soccer has the capability to considerably derail their season.
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BASTIEN – A tricky one to reply, this. Final season gifted us a grandstand end with six groups all inside touching distance of the Champions League on the ultimate days. I’d again Marseille to retain second spot after an bold summer season switch spree. Monaco additionally look aggressive regardless of their gambles within the switch market with the arrivals of Eric Dier, Ansu Fati and, after all, Paul Pogba. I’ve a nagging feeling that Strasbourg will shake the outdated French hierarchy up, emboldened by Liam Rosenior’s infectious and energetic model.
GEORGE – Medhi Benatia and Pablo Longoria have backed Roberto De Zerbi through the summer season, and that has raised expectations as soon as once more at the start of the season for Marseille. While some in La Cité Phocéene are going overboard with claims of a title cost, the lifelike expectation must be one other direct qualification for the Champions League for OM. Monaco are logically subsequent in line – relying on how their summer season signings settle. Be careful for a Lille facet boasting the goal-scoring capabilities of Olivier Giroud this season.
RAPHAËL – Given this summer season’s appreciable funding, bringing in Ligue 1 standouts and expertise from overseas, Marseille have emerged as probably the most credible challengers to PSG and will comfortably safe a top-three spot. With their northern neighbours Lille weakened and Florian Thauvin working the present, Pierre Sage’s Lens may also be sturdy contenders for Champions League soccer. Monaco’s investments have been extra of a chance, however the Principality facet have a coherent sufficient squad to complete close to the highest.
LIAM – Marseille had been second greatest final time period, and I can’t see that altering this time round. Roberto De Zerbi is now acclimatised to the French top-flight and is beginning to form his staff. The race for the final two locations seems tighter. Monaco have a largely settled facet, and with high-profile arrivals, I count on them to qualify for Europe’s premier competitors. Strasbourg are a staff on the up, and if they’ll stability taking part in in Europe, I see no motive why they’ll’t take one other step ahead.
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NICK – On paper, Marseille look to have strengthened considerably, and they need to stay the second-best staff… however the specter of implosion isn’t too far-off. Monaco have added expertise and (thus far) have averted massive departures. They need to problem OM for the runners-up spot. Strasbourg are my darkish horses, they may very well be stretched by European soccer, however there’s a lot expertise within the squad that they need to threaten the rostrum positions.
Who will qualify for the Europa League and Europa Convention League?
LUKE – I’d count on the race for not less than one in all these locations to be very shut. Lille ought to actually occupy one in all them, regardless of being significantly weakened by a swathe of high-profile departures. Behind them, I might nearly again Good, regardless that they too look weaker than this time final 12 months. However I wouldn’t rule out Rennes from working them very shut, on the very least. On paper, they’re sturdy and have some good academy merchandise breaking by means of. Additionally they benefit from not juggling European competitors. My lingering doubts about Habib Beye are the one factor stopping me from inserting them increased. Lyon must be there abouts, too.
BASTIEN – The battle for the final European spots may also be one for the ages, and I think Lyon will retain their Europa League standing for the third 12 months in a row. Regardless of their monetary constraints, for which they’ve the departed John Textor to thank, Paulo Fonseca has a robust sufficient squad to complete close to fifth place. If I had been a betting man, I’d predict that Rennes would make their return on the continental stage because of their squad’s revamp and the addition of high quality Ligue 1-proven gamers. Good and Lille additionally look significantly weaker than they had been final 12 months.
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GEORGE – Liam Rosenior’s Strasbourg can be chomping on the bit to safe direct European qualification this season after spectacularly lacking out on the ultimate day of final season. Pierre Sage and Lens are an intriguing prospect – particularly with the signing of Florian Thauvin. After this summer season’s DNCG drama, an austerity-struck Lyon may make a late cost relying on which gamers they’ll retain between now and the tip of the switch window. I might say Europa or the Convention League are on the high-end of this season’s ambitions for Les Gones.
RAPHAËL – Whereas the numerous turnover in personnel at Strasbourg introduces a level of uncertainty, the Alsatians do seem well-equipped to enhance on final season’s seventh-place end in Ligue 1 — particularly as their now-direct rivals Good, Lille, and Lyon have all been weakened this summer season. Changing the impacts of Andrey Santos and Habib Diarra, and integrating a brand new batch of Chelsea loanees, will initially be a problem for Liam Rosenior, although. Will probably be troublesome for Lille head coach Bruno Genesio to melt the blow of shedding all of Lucas Chevalier, Bafodé Diakité, Angel Gomes, and Jonathan David (amongst others) this summer season. Les Dogues nonetheless nonetheless have a greater than serviceable Ligue 1 squad, now led by the skilled Olivier Giroud, and will have the ability to muster a problem for the European spots.
LIAM – I imagine the battle to qualify for European soccer may very well be as shut as final season, which gives an thrilling proposition. Good tailored effectively to the arrival of Haise, and this could see them compete once more. Lille have misplaced appreciable firepower, however the remainder of the standard of their squad ought to see them compete. If the Coupe de France winners are within the prime six, I count on Lyon to safe the ultimate spot.
NICK – Excessive-profile departures and sluggish arrivals have left Lille weakened this summer season, however they need to stay a part of the European dialog. A well-known challenge confronts Good, the membership have expertise, however they’ve been ravaged by accidents, it’ll take one other masterclass from Franck Haise. Lyon’s new period of austerity will save the membership, nevertheless it may also see them miss out on European soccer.
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Who can be relegated?
LUKE – I feel will probably be a tall order for Angers to repeat final 12 months’s feat. Their infrastructure and funds are these of a Ligue 2 facet, and they also overperformed to stay within the top-flight final season. I feel that Metz, if they’ll maintain their squad collectively, may have simply sufficient to not less than end within the relegation play-off spot, maybe increased. There can be targets in that staff, I imagine, however the identical can’t be mentioned for Lorient, who’ve misplaced Eli Junior Kroupi. I again them to make a direct return to Ligue 2.
BASTIEN – Final season confirmed that it’s not all the time the poorest golf equipment to go down, and I think this development will keep it up. The leap from Ligue 2 to Ligue 1 is a troublesome one to take, and I concern for promoted sides Metz and Lorient, whose switch actions supply few grounds for optimism. In the meantime, Toulouse appear to be at a harmful crossroads after Damien Comolli’s shock departure to Juventus and their pre-season outcomes (they shipped 13 targets in opposition to Stuttgart and Leipzig) are trigger for concern.
GEORGE – Lorient shedding (and never changing) Eli Junior Kroupi means they simply gained’t have sufficient firepower up entrance to attain the mandatory quantity of targets to remain up this season. The duty for Metz is analogous, regardless of some promising man-management and ways from Stéphane Le Mignan within the second tier, misplaced expertise and little Ligue 1 expertise in reserve will make staying up an enormous problem. As soon as once more, Nantes may very well be within the firing line if they don’t begin effectively beneath new boss Luís Castro.
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RAPHAËL – Whereas they admirably stayed up final season on a shoestring price range, Le Havre’s time within the prime flight will seemingly come to an finish this season after the departure of a number of key gamers. Of the three promoted sides, it’s Metz who look the least outfitted for Ligue 1 soccer, particularly because the departure of captain Matthieu Udol for Lens.
LIAM – It’s arduous to look previous the newly promoted golf equipment when figuring out candidates for relegation. Lorient and Metz look primed to go down, given little exercise within the switch market; the identical can’t be mentioned for Paris FC. Angers carried out effectively above expectations final season, however I count on them to flirt with relegation once more this time period, too.
RAPHAËL – On his return to French soccer after spells in Mexico and Italy, Florian Thauvin has already impressed in Lens’ pre-season friendlies. Because the quantity ten in Pierre Sage’s staff, the World Cup winner can be afforded a stage of inventive freedom befitting of his abilities for the primary time in his profession. It’s a job from which he may shortly re-emerge as one of many league’s standout gamers.
LIAM – After his transformation in a central function beneath Luis Enrique, Ousmane Dembélé seems on track to win the Ballon d’Or. If he carries these performances into this season, he’ll cement himself as the brand new face of Ligue 1.
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NICK – The Champions League closing was the second that Désiré Doué confirmed what France already knew: he’s a phenomenon. It took him some time to settle into the staff following his transfer from boyhood membership Stade Rennais, however with a 12 months beneath his belt, this season ought to see the 20-year-old take an enormous step ahead.
Who will win the Golden Boot?
LUKE – It could take lots to beat Ousmane Dembélé, who took this accolade final season. The Frenchman is proving to be a really adept first-time finisher, and his new central positioning actually lends itself to that. However I’m going to again Monaco’s Mika Biereth. The Dane netted 13 targets in 16 appearances in Ligue 1 after becoming a member of the Principality membership in January. He’s a pure finisher, and I again him to proceed in the identical vein.
BASTIEN – I do not forget that I predicted final 12 months that the Golden Boot would go to PSG’s fundamental provider of targets, and I believed that may be Gonçalo Ramos, not Ousmane Dembélé. The France worldwide’s transition from a pacy however typically gawky winger to a selfless, stressed and scientific centre-forward has been wondrous to see. There’s no motive for him to let up now, however competitors for the Ligue 1 Golden Boot can be fierce with Marseille’s Mason Greenwood, Monaco’s Mika Biereth and Lyon’s Georges Mikautadze all prone to be within the race.
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GEORGE – Olivier Giroud, anybody? In September, France’s report goal-scorer will flip 39, however the former Arsenal, Chelsea, and AC Milan man can nonetheless hit the again of the online. He doesn’t have the tempo of former Lille man Jonathan David, however his positioning and his ‘knack’ for scoring targets may shock many this season. Simply take his acrobatic strike in opposition to West Ham in pre-season, for instance, the Phoenix has nonetheless obtained it.
RAPHAËL – Whether or not Ousmane Dembélé can replicate his newfound goalscoring feats throughout a number of seasons stays to be seen. For a confirmed observe report, although, look no additional than Olivier Giroud — on his return to France after 13 years away, the veteran seems set to thrive because the centrepiece of a Lille facet that can as soon as once more problem for the upper finish of the desk.
LIAM – Final 12 months, I tipped Georges Mikautadze, and I’m inclined to do the identical once more. His minutes will enhance with Alexandre Lacazette’s departure, and with elevated accountability within the closing third, I count on him to thrive.
NICK – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returns to Marseille after a short sojourn in Saudi Arabia with Al-Qadsiah. At 36, the striker has not but misplaced his goalscoring contact, and in a Roberto De Zerbi facet that appears as if it may have numerous creativity from the wings, the previous Arsenal man may very well be well-fed.
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