Ligue 1 preview: Can anybody dethrone PSG? There’s hope!
Mesdames et messieurs, Ligue 1 is gearing up for another exciting season! The season commences on August 16th, when 18 teams will start with the dream of winning the title. Paris Saint-Germain is the defending champion with a target on their back, but beating the Parisians is easier said than done.
Who’s the favorite?
Even though PSG’s local hero, Kylian Mbappé, left the club for Real Madrid, it’s still impossible to look beyond them in the title race. Luis Enrique’s squad has a stranglehold on Ligue 1 as the Parisians have won ten of the last 12 titles.
Yet, as Monaco and Lille showed in the 2016/17 and 2020/21 seasons, it would be foolish to declare PSG the winner in August. Their 13th championship is highly likely, though, and their rivals need close to a perfect season to dethrone PSG.
Sure, Mbappé leaves a gaping hole in PSG’s attack but that should have a more significant effect in the Champions League than in Ligue 1. Randal Kolo Muani, Bradley Barcola, and Gonçalo Ramos are more than capable of collectively replacing the Frenchman’s 27 league goals last season.
The club’s depth in attack is also evidenced by the fact that they haven’t signed a single forward in light of Mbappé’s departure. PSG has, however, splashed around 125 million Euros to replace the departed during the transfer window. Goalkeeper Matvey Safonov joined from Krasnodar to back up Gianluigi Donnarumma after Keylor Navas and Sergio Rico were released; João Neves adds quality and depth to the midfield; Willian Pacho is a highly promising center-back who is much needed after Presnel Kimpembe and Lucas Hernandez are unavailable for the foreseeable future.
The transfers show how PSG is attempting to significantly reinforce the spine of its team, something that has become a vital facet of the club’s project. Safonov is the oldest of the three signings, at 25, Pacho is 22, and Neves is just 19.
Qatari-backed PSG is still France’s richest club, but it has pivoted from throwing money at stars to trying to snap up talented players who can grow in the Parc des Princes and bring them the only glory still missing: the Champions League.
Who’s the dark horse?
Olympique de Marseille. As they ended last season in eighth place, Les Olympiens missed out on European competition for the first time since 2019/20. Yet, that may be a blessing in disguise, as it helps keep the squad fresh and avoid injuries due to a congested schedule. Thirdly, it gives Marseille more time on the training pitch, which can be crucial, as there’s a new sheriff in town.
Manager Roberto De Zerbi worked wonders with Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League. His attacking-minded, possession-based style of football amazed fans and his peers, as did the club’s transfer philosophy and ability to find hidden gems.
In the Spring of 2024, De Zerbi was linked with Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich. Considering this, joining Marseille seems a downgrade, but the Italian took on a challenge, just like in England.
Marseille is a historical powerhouse of French football but last won the league in 2010. De Zerbi won’t have as much money as PSG, but he has proven himself a great tactician and someone who can extract the maximum out of his team.
This summer, they have bolstered their midfield with key signings Ismaël Koné and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. There are plenty of other newcomers, too, emphasizing youth: most of their new arrivals are under 25.
Of course, there is the question of how Marseille will replace forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gabon international scored 30 goals and gave 11 assists in all competitions last season but left the club for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Qadsiah. Aubameyang’s departure leaves a significant hole in Marseille’s attack.
However, De Zerbi has plenty of experience working with young players, so Marseille’s squad will be familiar territory for him. If the youngsters progress and follow the manager’s ideas, Marseille might conquer PSG and return to where they belong while playing the football the fans dream of.
Who will be relegated?
Unlike some European top leagues, Ligue 1 has two automatic relegation spots. The 16th-placed team will fight for their top-flight spot in the play-offs.
Angers was promoted thanks to a second-place finish in Ligue 2, where they were described as a model of team play. They largely maintained their squad from the second division but have added several players, although, like last season, there has been little money to spend. Still, they don’t have as much quality as others, and it would be a surprise if they don’t fall back to Ligue 2.
Last season, Le Havre survived in Ligue 1 by three points. It has one of the youngest squads in the league, with an average age of just 25.1 for the 2024/25 season. If their talents don’t progress, they will again be drawn into the relegation battle, and chances are they cannot escape the drop for the second year.
