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Is 2025/26 the season we see a proper title race in France?

Is 2025/26 the season we see a proper title race in France?

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For once, PSG aren’t having things quite their own way in Ligue 1. The Parisian giants have yet to truly find the form that saw them crowned champions of Europe last season, with many citing Luis Enrique’s side as the finest on the planet.

By Ross Kilvington

The latest round of Ligue 1 matches may have seen PSG snatch a crucial victory over Lyon thanks to a late winner, but there were some interesting results from those keen to mount a title challenge.

Ligue 1 is wide open

PSG’s late win means they head into the international break top of the table by two points, yet there were some big wins for the challengers.

Marseille sealed a relatively straightforward 3-0 win over Brest, while Lens came away from Monaco with all three points after a stunning 4-1 victory at the Stade Louis II.

One of the most intriguing clashes came between Strasbourg and Lille. The home side won 2-0, thus moving up to fourth in the table, with Liam Rosenior continuing the superb job he’s been doing in the North East of France.

Since Montpellier won Ligue 1 in 2011/12, only Monaco (2016/17) and Lille (2020/21) have pipped PSG to the domestic crown.

Naturally, Luis Enrique’s side are still favourites to retain their title and become just the second team after Lyon to win five consecutive Ligue 1 titles.

The chasing pack don’t appear to be giving in. Following years of PSG’s monopoly on the domestic scene, could there finally be a shift from the mundane to the miraculous this season?

Marseille poised for title challenge

Under Roberto De Zerbi, Marseille finished second last season, albeit 19 points behind PSG.

This season, he has shown that this was no fluke. After starting the season with two defeats in their opening three league games, the club have won seven of their subsequent nine matches.

A 1-0 victory over PSG during that run could potentially be pivotal. Utilising a 3-4-3 system at home to the champions, De Zerbi’s men defended heroically for 85 minutes after going ahead in the fifth minute.

Remarkably, it was Marseille’s first win over their rivals at the Stade Velodrome for 14 years. The club are the top scorers in Ligue 1 with 28 goals this season. Maintaining this sort of scoring rate will surely see the club challenge PSG once again.

Lens are trending in the right direction

Lens’ eighth place finish last season has built the foundations for the club to enjoy an excellent start to the 2025/26 campaign.

Pierre Sage has led the club to third, sealing victories over Marseille, Lille and Monaco in the process. Indeed, they scored nine goals and conceded just twice across those three matches.

Despite losing Kevin Danso, Andy Diouf and Neil El Aynaoui this summer, Lens have strengthened accordingly, bringing in players such as Odsonne Édouard, Abdallah Sima and Mamadou Sangaré.

As such, Sage’s high-pressing and aggressive style has paid dividends over the first few months of the season.

Their only Ligue 1 title came nearly 30 years ago. They couldn’t, could they?

Strasbourg and Lille are knocking at the door

Rosenior has done a magnificent job since taking over Strasbourg. A seventh place finish last term was just their second top-eight placing in 20 years.

This saw them qualify for the Conference League, already winning seven points from nine, as the Englishman looks to fight on two fronts.

A 3-3 draw against PSG proved Strasbourg have the fight for a challenge, but will consistency be a problem? They haven’t won back-to-back league games since September 21.

Lille were on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat to Strasbourg last week, but the champions in 2020/21 have drawn with PSG and won against Monaco thus far.

Summer departures include Lucas Chevalier, Bafodé Diakité and Edon Zhegrova undoubtedly weakened the squad, yet they have adapted well.

Hamza Igamane, signed from Rangers in a £10.4m deal looks like one of the bargains of the transfer window. The Moroccan has scored seven goals for the club and building the side around the youngster could be a wise move by Bruno Génésio.

Monaco and Lyon could play major roles in the title race

Monaco, with two titles this century, and Lyon, who haven’t won Ligue 1 since 2008, have found themselves caught in the slipstream of the five aforementioned teams this season.

Currently occupying sixth and seventh, the French heavyweights trail PSG by just seven points. Given how inconsistent the defending champions have been, this deficit perhaps isn’t as daunting as it used to be.

Both sides have identical records – six wins, two draws and four defeats – yet Monaco are the ones who have demonstrated their attacking intentions, scoring 24 goals in 12 games.

Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati could be the difference maker. He has scored six goals so far, combing well with USMNT forward Folarin Balogun.

Three wins from three to open their season had Lyon supporters purring, but things have been tougher in recent weeks.

Defeats to Nice, Toulouse and PSG most recently have taken the sting out of their tail. Paulo Fonseca does have the added bonus of a slightly easier fixture list in the coming weeks, with Lyon facing the three teams in the relegation zone between now and the middle of December. And Fonseca will soon be able to coach from the sidelines in Ligue 1 again, as his longterm suspension comes to an end this month.

Three wins would surely see the club climb the table and emerge as proper challengers during the second half of the season.

With only seven points separating PSG at the top and Lyon in seventh, this could be the most exciting Ligue 1 season in years.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from Ligue 1 with FotMob this season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Is 2025/26 the season we see a proper title race in France?

For once, PSG aren’t having things quite their own way in Ligue 1. The Parisian giants have yet to truly find the form that saw them crowned champions of Europe last season, with many citing Luis Enrique’s side as the finest on the planet.

By Ross Kilvington

The latest round of Ligue 1 matches may have seen PSG snatch a crucial victory over Lyon thanks to a late winner, but there were some interesting results from those keen to mount a title challenge.

Ligue 1 is wide open

PSG’s late win means they head into the international break top of the table by two points, yet there were some big wins for the challengers.

Marseille sealed a relatively straightforward 3-0 win over Brest, while Lens came away from Monaco with all three points after a stunning 4-1 victory at the Stade Louis II.

One of the most intriguing clashes came between Strasbourg and Lille. The home side won 2-0, thus moving up to fourth in the table, with Liam Rosenior continuing the superb job he’s been doing in the North East of France.

Since Montpellier won Ligue 1 in 2011/12, only Monaco (2016/17) and Lille (2020/21) have pipped PSG to the domestic crown.

Naturally, Luis Enrique’s side are still favourites to retain their title and become just the second team after Lyon to win five consecutive Ligue 1 titles.

The chasing pack don’t appear to be giving in. Following years of PSG’s monopoly on the domestic scene, could there finally be a shift from the mundane to the miraculous this season?

Marseille poised for title challenge

Under Roberto De Zerbi, Marseille finished second last season, albeit 19 points behind PSG.

This season, he has shown that this was no fluke. After starting the season with two defeats in their opening three league games, the club have won seven of their subsequent nine matches.

A 1-0 victory over PSG during that run could potentially be pivotal. Utilising a 3-4-3 system at home to the champions, De Zerbi’s men defended heroically for 85 minutes after going ahead in the fifth minute.

Remarkably, it was Marseille’s first win over their rivals at the Stade Velodrome for 14 years. The club are the top scorers in Ligue 1 with 28 goals this season. Maintaining this sort of scoring rate will surely see the club challenge PSG once again.

Lens are trending in the right direction

Lens’ eighth place finish last season has built the foundations for the club to enjoy an excellent start to the 2025/26 campaign.

Pierre Sage has led the club to third, sealing victories over Marseille, Lille and Monaco in the process. Indeed, they scored nine goals and conceded just twice across those three matches.

Despite losing Kevin Danso, Andy Diouf and Neil El Aynaoui this summer, Lens have strengthened accordingly, bringing in players such as Odsonne Édouard, Abdallah Sima and Mamadou Sangaré.

As such, Sage’s high-pressing and aggressive style has paid dividends over the first few months of the season.

Their only Ligue 1 title came nearly 30 years ago. They couldn’t, could they?

Strasbourg and Lille are knocking at the door

Rosenior has done a magnificent job since taking over Strasbourg. A seventh place finish last term was just their second top-eight placing in 20 years.

This saw them qualify for the Conference League, already winning seven points from nine, as the Englishman looks to fight on two fronts.

A 3-3 draw against PSG proved Strasbourg have the fight for a challenge, but will consistency be a problem? They haven’t won back-to-back league games since September 21.

Lille were on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat to Strasbourg last week, but the champions in 2020/21 have drawn with PSG and won against Monaco thus far.

Summer departures include Lucas Chevalier, Bafodé Diakité and Edon Zhegrova undoubtedly weakened the squad, yet they have adapted well.

Hamza Igamane, signed from Rangers in a £10.4m deal looks like one of the bargains of the transfer window. The Moroccan has scored seven goals for the club and building the side around the youngster could be a wise move by Bruno Génésio.

Monaco and Lyon could play major roles in the title race

Monaco, with two titles this century, and Lyon, who haven’t won Ligue 1 since 2008, have found themselves caught in the slipstream of the five aforementioned teams this season.

Currently occupying sixth and seventh, the French heavyweights trail PSG by just seven points. Given how inconsistent the defending champions have been, this deficit perhaps isn’t as daunting as it used to be.

Both sides have identical records – six wins, two draws and four defeats – yet Monaco are the ones who have demonstrated their attacking intentions, scoring 24 goals in 12 games.

Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati could be the difference maker. He has scored six goals so far, combing well with USMNT forward Folarin Balogun.

Three wins from three to open their season had Lyon supporters purring, but things have been tougher in recent weeks.

Defeats to Nice, Toulouse and PSG most recently have taken the sting out of their tail. Paulo Fonseca does have the added bonus of a slightly easier fixture list in the coming weeks, with Lyon facing the three teams in the relegation zone between now and the middle of December. And Fonseca will soon be able to coach from the sidelines in Ligue 1 again, as his longterm suspension comes to an end this month.

Three wins would surely see the club climb the table and emerge as proper challengers during the second half of the season.

With only seven points separating PSG at the top and Lyon in seventh, this could be the most exciting Ligue 1 season in years.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from Ligue 1 with FotMob this season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.