On August 15, 2025, the 2025–26 Ligue 1 season officially kicks off. With a total squad value of €1.2 billion, Paris Saint-Germain are overwhelming favorites for the title, leaving little suspense in the championship race.
Outside of PSG, Marseille, Monaco, Nice, Lille, Lyon, and Strasbourg will fight for the runner-up spot and Champions League qualification.
Five-Time Champions—The Unshakable Dominance of PSG
PSG’s dominance in Ligue 1 is clear. According to Transfermarkt, their squad value tops the league, far ahead of Monaco (€410 million) and Marseille (€350 million). Before the start of this season, they defeated Tottenham in the UEFA Super Cup final on penalties, lifting the trophy for the first time and completing an incredible “five-title” haul.
Having claimed the Ligue 1 title in each of the past four seasons, PSG now sets their sights on a fifth consecutive championship. But the bigger question for fans and pundits alike is can they do it without a single defeat?
In Ligue 1’s 88-year history, no team has ever gone unbeaten over an entire season. Last season, PSG went undefeated in the first 28 rounds and sealed the title with six games to spare but eased off in the final stretch and failed to achieve the feat.
This PSG squad looks almost flawless: Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia, and Doué form a lethal attacking trio, with Barcola, Gonçalo Ramos, and Lee Kang-in waiting on the bench.
In midfield, Fabián Ruiz, Vitinha, and João Neves bring control, technique, pressing, and forward runs in perfect balance. New signings like goalkeeper Chevalier and center-back Bazdarni add further strength.
Six Teams in the Champions League Qualification Race
With PSG out of reach, other clubs will focus on securing Champions League spots. The top three in Ligue 1 qualify directly, while the fourth-place finisher enters the qualifying rounds. Marseille, Monaco, Nice, Lille, Lyon, and Strasbourg will battle for those four spots.
Marseille has undergone a significant overhaul this summer, bringing in Højbjerg, Weah Jr., Aubameyang, and Peyssonnel. Monaco has signed center-back Eric Dier, taken Ansu Fati on loan from Barcelona, and added Paul Pogba. Strasbourg has spent €100 million on 10 new players, making their ambition for Champions League football clear.
Four High-Profile Derbies
One of this season’s big attractions is the return of the Paris derby. Paris FC are back in Ligue 1 after 46 years, with their home ground, Stade Charléty, just 44 meters away from PSG’s Parc des Princes, separated by only a wall.
PSG will face Paris FC twice, as well as two editions of the French “Classique” against Marseille. These four matches promise to be season highlights.
The Newly Promoted Clubs’ Battle for Survival
Lorient, Paris FC, and Metz are the three newly promoted sides, with their primary goal being survival. Meanwhile, last season’s relegation battlers, Le Havre, Angers, and Nantes, will also be fighting to stay in the top flight.
In summary, the 2025–26 Ligue 1 season promises to be a battle for both glory and survival. Whether PSG can complete an unbeaten run to secure their fifth consecutive title will be the season’s biggest storyline.
At the same time, the intense fights for European spots and survival will provide plenty of drama for fans. As the new campaign begins, all the answers will unfold over the next ten months, and a new chapter in Ligue 1 history is just starting.
